BEVERLY HILLS, April 22, (THEWILL) – The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has released guidelines of how the committee set up to probe suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayo Oke, will operate in carrying out its mandate.
Osinbajo is the head of the three‐man panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe allegations of violation of due process in the award of contracts levelled against Lawal and the discovery of large sums of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
THEWILL had exclusively reported that the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, had claimed ownership of the $43,449,947, £27,800 and N23, 218,000 seized last Wednesday by the EFCC from Osborne Towers, a luxury residential complex in Ikoyi, Lagos, said to be owned by ex-National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Adamu Muazu.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said the presidential panel will meet behind closed-doors, but assured that it will dispense the responsibility with utmost deligence and without fear or favour.
He explained that the committee has chosen to carry out the probe behind closed doors to avoid speculation, adding that all public officials and private individuals connected with the investigation will be invited by the committee.
“The Presidential Committee ordered earlier this week by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe certain allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke has commenced its work in earnest.
“President Buhari on Wednesday established the 3-man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with Attorney-General & Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Babagana Munguno as members, to investigate allegations of legal and due process violations made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases. It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases. All its proceedings will however be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.
“The panel which is expected to submit its report to the President at the expiration of the 14-day deadline, will conduct it’s work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour,” the statement read.
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