President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the prosecution of former Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, and ex-Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo disclosed this at an event held in his honour by Christian youths, under the aegis of Ikeja branch of GRILL in Lagos, weekend.
Lawal was sacked after a Senate committee indicted him on misappropriating funds meant for internally displaced persons, IDPs, in the north-east but denied any wrongdoing.
The former NIA Director-General was also removed from office, following the discovery of $43 million at an apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Answering questions from the audience on the former SGF, Osinbajo said Lawal and Oke were recommended for prosecution by the committee he heads.
He said: “I think the first thing for us is that the report was acted upon; the former SGF was dismissed. Second, the President has directed that the SGF and former DG of NIA be prosecuted.
“So, we are expecting that prosecution will take place. The next, of course, is that criminal allegations will be filed against them and the prosecution process will be completed.”
He blamed corruption for the woes of the country, adding that stealing was not taking place under the current government.
He said: “Corruption has had detrimental effects on Nigeria’s economy. This country was subjected to corruption for many years. Grand corruption perpetuated by previous governments is responsible for the state of the economy.
“Many of the projects in the country initiated by the previous government are not completed because of corruption. Grand corruption makes people start projects and never complete them.”
“Grand corruption is when the head of government takes money from the treasury and shares it to the people.
“You will never find people stealing from the public treasury under this administration. The same individuals who robbed this country are saying they want to come back and fix the problems.
“We should ask them what they are going to do about grand corruption. How are you sure they are not going to enrich their friends with public funds.”
BABACHIR AND OYE
Finally, these above-the-law Nigerians have been ‘okeyed’ for prosecution in a system where ‘no one is stealing from this government’ according to the vice-president, (former Pastor) Yemi Osinbajo. While this development is welcome, no one is deceived about the underlying motives: to give an impression of a government fighting corruption. Fighting corruption in deed. The recent persecution of the CJN Onoghen and the speed of his trial for alleged false declaration of assets and compared with Babachir and Oke’s case of nearly two years, one is not left in doubt that the government is simply clutching strawknowing that its fate has been effectively sealed come February 2019.