SERAP Asks Buhari to Refer SGF to EFCC, ICPC for Investigation

By Tobi Soniyi in Abuja

A civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari  to refer the allegations of corruption against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for further investigation.

 In a letter to the president dated January 27, 2017 and signed by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said should the anti-graft agencies fine  relevant and sufficient admissible evidence against him, he should be to face prosecution.

SERAP also urged Buhari to publish the outcome of the investigation conducted on the matter by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)  and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN), and to ask the AGF to hand over the file to both the EFCC and ICPC.

SERAP said: “We are concerned that the failure to suspend Lawal from his position as SGF pending the investigation by Malami, and the perceived lack of transparency in the outcome of that investigation may have created the impression that your government is treating Lawal as a sacred cow.”

The letter copied to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, read in part: “SERAP believes that Lawal’s case presents your administration with a real opportunity to reassure a lot of Nigerians who may be worried about the direction of travel of your anti-corruption agenda. Rather than assuming a defensive posture to the matter, we advise you to use this case to show Nigerians that there will be no two standards of justice in your administration’s fight against corruption.

“SERAP also believes the recommended approach would help to address the growing public suspicion and pessimism about your government’s ability to fight high-level official corruption to a standstill, and to avoid any collateral consequences. It is absolutely important that the public should have complete confidence and trust in your administration’s oft-repeated commitment to fight corruption and the impunity of perpetrators.

“It is true that Lawal enjoys a constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to a fair trial, which includes the right to be presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. But we believe that the right to presumption of innocence is one that should have personally be raised by Lawal and not your government, especially given his position as Secretary to the Government of the Federation. SERAP believes that the guilt or innocence of Lawal is for the court to decide, following a due process of law.”

The organisation also made the following recommendations to the president for him, “to achieve public confidence and trust, effectively spread the gospel of anticorruption, and be on the right side of history;

“Urgently refer the allegations against Lawal to both the EFCC and ICPC for further investigations, and if there is relevant and sufficient admissible evidence, for him to face prosecution;

“Pending the referral to the EFCC and ICPC, to suspend  Lawal from his position as SGF, pending the outcome of any investigation by the EFCC and ICPC.

“Promptly and widely publish the outcome of investigation carried out by Malami and instruct that any files relating to that investigation be handed over to the EFCC and ICPC to assist in their follow-up investigation.”

The group noted  that following a report by the Senate ad hoc committee which indicted Lawal over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, (PINE), the president instructed Malami to carry out further investigation into the allegation. 

It said: “Among other allegations contained in the Senate’s report is that Lawal’s company, Global Vision Limited benefited from inflated contracts of over N200 million to clear ‘invasive plant specie’ in Yobe State. According to the report, Lawal was still the director of Global Vision as of the time the contract was awarded in March 2016, and remains the signatory to the company’s account.

“SERAP further notes your instruction to Malami to carry out further investigation into the allegations, as well as your recent letter to the Senate effectively raising some technical and procedural concerns about the report which indicted Lawal.”