EFCC raises panel to investigate ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, seven others

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised a five-man panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal. According to the Nation, Lawal may be invited for interrogation alongside seven others.The former SGF has been accused of contract scandal, violation of Public Procurement Act, abuse of office and mismanagement of funds.

The Special Investigative Committee will invite Lawal after the preliminary review of the reports of the Presidential Investigative Committee, which was headed by Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the Northeast, led by Senator Shehu Sani.

A source in the anti-graft agency said“Our team is set and we have isolated eight issues for Lawal to respond to. Both Osinbajo’s Committee and the Senate Ad hoc Committee recommended the prosecution of all those involved in the alleged contract scam in the Presidential Initiative in the Northeast PINE”

A document obtained last night revealed the areas to be clarified by Lawal, some companies and PINE officials. They are:

• Why did PINE pay 95%-100% contract sums for projects yet to be executed?
• How much was PINE’s contributions to two conferences on rebuilding the Northeast?
• What informed the award of and purported payment of a N223million consultancy contract for the removal of invasive plant species in Komadugu, Yobe Water Channels to the ex-SGF’s company?
• Why was Section 43(iii) and (iv) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 ignored by PINE?
• Could it be true that all the contracts awarded by PINE had no direct bearing to the needs of the Internally Displaced Persons?
• Who recommended the engagement of Rholavision Engineering Limited belonging to a then serving government official, Babachir Lawal?
• Is it true that Rholavision was incorporated in 1990 to carry out ICT services instead of agro services?
• Was Lawal a signatory to Rholavision’s account as at the time of the award of the consultancy contract? Was he a director of the same firm till September 2016 while in office as SGF?

President Buhari approved the termination of Babachir's appointment on Monday, October 30th.