Osinbajo committee quizzes BPP DG, others ...requests for Senate’s report on suspended SGF
The presidential panel probing the allegations of contract fraud against the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, has widened the scope of its investigation.
The panel, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday questioned the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mamman Ahmadu, for over six hours.
Also present at the session were other officials of the BPP, which is responsible for vetting government contracts above N50 million.
The SGF is accused of influencing
the award of contracts to firms linked to him under the Presidential Initiative on the North-East (PINE). His office supervises PINE.
A top Presidency source told Daily Trust that the committee wanted to determine whether PINE contracts were certified by BPP as required by law.
It was not clear whether some infractions were discovered at yesterday’s session.
PINE officials also appeared before the panel yesterday. The source, however, did not disclose the identity of the PINE officials questioned.
Our correspondent reports that the session was still going on as of the time of filing this report last night (8:00pm).
Babachir appeared before the panel Tuesday and was questioned for several hours.
Other members of the panel are the National Security Adviser,Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
The committee is also investigating the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency Ambassador Ayo Oke who was suspended the same time with Babachir.
He was suspended in connection with the discovery of N15 billion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, this month.
The NIA had laid claim to the money saying it was approved for it over two years ago by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The investigation panel is expected to submit its report on the two top government officials next Wednesday.
A Senate Committee on the Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East had found Babachir culpable of alleged complicity in N200m grasscutting contract to clear “invasive plant species” in Yobe State.
Osinbajo committee writes Senate for report
Meanwhile, the committee has written the Senate requesting for report that indicted Babachir.
The Senate in December last year indicted Lawal in a unanimous resolution and requested President Buhari to sack him.
The committee in a letter addressed to the Senate committee by Ade Ipaye, a Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the office of the Vice-President requested for the report that indicted Lawal.
The letter dated April 21 with Reference: 5H/0VP/ DCOS/PCE/SEN/O6 said the Senate report would be analysed by the Presidential Committee.
“You may please recall that on the 19th of April 2017, His Excellency, the President and Commanderin-Chiéf of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR constituted a Presidential Committee to Enquire into Allegations of due process Violation in the Award of Contracts under the Presidential Initiatives on the North East (PINE).
“Following the inaugural meeting of the said Committee, I am directed by His Excellency, the Vice President and Chairman of Committee, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, to formerly request the submission of relevant documentation including the report of your Committee’s deliberations on the same subject for appropriate consideration by the Presidential Committee,” the letter seen by our correspondent reads.
Senate invites suspended SGF to appear today
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee had invited has the suspended SGF appear before it today.
A source said the suspended SGF had been served with the invitation letter. This is the third time that the SGF would be invited by the committee.