Grass-cutting probe: Senate panel re-invites SGF Lawal

The Senate has given the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, a second chance to defend himself against the allegations of awarding contracts to companies where he has interest in the rehabilitation of the North-East.

Lawal has, again, been invited by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East.

The chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani, confirmed on Tuesday that the panel had invited the SGF again.

He said the panel intended to give the SGF a second chance.

“We have invited him (Lawal) once again. We want all the invitees to come and defend themselves,” the panel chairman stated.

Sani had told our correspondent that the final report of the committee would be released after all stakeholders had given their accounts on the management of the funds.

He said, “We are still inviting more companies, contractors and more public officials. What we submitted was an interim report. We are going to issue a conclusive report after the budget process.”

Our correspondent, on Tuesday, sighted a letter re-inviting Lawal to appear before the committee on Thursday.

The letter, dated March 15, 2017 and signed by Sani, was addressed to Lawal’s Kaduna address.

It read, “The committee held a three-day public hearing between December 6 and 8, 2016, even though some of the invited stakeholders refused to attend.

“In order to give them fair hearing, the committee has resolved to conduct another public hearing.

“You are hereby invited once more to the public hearing.”

Based on the interim report of the committee, the Senate had, on December 14, 2016, called for the resignation, probe and prosecution of the SGF over alleged mismanagement of funds meant for the North-East rehabilitation under his watch.

The lawmakers specifically called on security and anti-graft agencies to arrest and prosecute Lawal, who is overseeing the Presidential Initiative on the North-East, for allegedly owning one of the companies awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the region.

Lawal was alleged to have resigned his directorship of the company after becoming the SGF and after the company had executed the contract.

One of the companies linked to the SGF was said to have been awarded the contract for the removal of invasive plants along river channels and 115 hectares of simplified village irrigation operation in Yobe State for the sum of N272,524,356.

But Lawal claimed that the panel did not invite him for his defence, saying the lawmakers were out to malign him.

Our source had reportedly on February 1, 2017, that the committee had requested the Bank Verification Numbers of some companies linked to the SGF, who were contracted for various projects on the rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons.

It was also reported that the lawmakers might re-invite Lawal for questioning while the companies linked to the SGF would also be invited.

The companies include Rholavision Engineering Limited, Josmond Technology Limited, Medina International Global Limited, Muby Ventures Nigeria Limited and JMT.