Senate says Buhari’s SGF allegedly corners IDP fund, calls for prosecution

For abusing due process and diverting funds for humanitarian efforts in the northeast, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal has been asked by the Senate to resign so he can face prosecution. But the federal government scribe says the call is attempt to do the dirt on his person.

Lawal said this while speaking to journalists shortly after the 2017 Budget Proposal presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari before the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday in Abuja.

Problem began after the presentation of interim report of the Adhoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North East by the Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Sani.

Lawal was alleged to have contravened provisions of Public Procurement Act and the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to award of contracts.

Sani said that some of the contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials’ cronies and family members.

For example, Global Vision Engineering Limited, a company where Lawal was Director, was awarded consultancy contract.

Despite being an IT company, the firm got a job to clear grass in Yobe at N200 million.

“Although, Lawal resigned the directorship of the said company in September 2016, it is on record that he is a signatory to the accounts of the company,’’ he said.

The adhoc committee was directed to expedite action on its findings to submit a complete report on the humanitarian crisis in the North East.