The sack of former Secretary to the Federal Government (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke has brought to an end a chapter in their lives.
Lawal, as SGF, was one of the few government officials who called the shot under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. But, with his sack those who hold the views that the administration was not serious with its fight against corruption would have a rethink.
The President Adviser on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina said the sacking of the government officials was based on the report of a three-man panel which investigated the allegations of misdemeanor level against them.
Buhari had ordered investigation into allegations of violations of law and due process in the award of contracts for the Presidential Initiatives on the Northeast (PINE) made against him. He was the chairman of the board of the eight-man committee assigned to give a new lease to the Northeast.
Other members of the committee are Alhaji Mai Mala (North East), Alhaji Zakari Idde (North Central), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir (Northwest), Chief Hillard Etagbo Eta (South-south), Chief Pius Akinyelure (Southwest), Emmanuel Eneukwu (Southeast) as member while Mr. Gideon Sammani was the secretary.
Following allegation of misdemeanor, a three man-committee was constituted to investigate the issues. The committee was headed by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo which also included the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser Maj. General Babagana Mungunu (rtd).
The panel, which was given 14 days to complete its assignment, invited parties accused to defend themselves and recommendation was made to the President Buhari. Just as members of the executive went about its assignment without prejudice, the Senate recently found Lawal wanting in the management of the finances and welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The former SGF was appointed on August 27, 2015 had been on suspension since April. He was once said the news making the round could not be true when his suspension was made public.
The Electrical Engineering graduate from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria wielded enormous influence and power when he held sway. He came short of expectation when much was demanded of him on the humanitarian crisis in the Northeast.
The Senate ad hoc committee led by Senator Shehu Sani in its report unearthed the infamous grasscutting scandal which lawal used his company Rholavision Engineering Limited to carry out.
The interim indictment of Lawal by the Senate made President Buhari to constitute the Osinbajo led panel that finally made its recommendation. Sources alleged that Lawal received at least N450 million in kickbacks from companies that got contracts from PINE.
There were cases of companies that got contracts without following due process. It was alleged that between November 2015 and July 2016, the agency received over eight billion naira, out of which N6.8 billion was expended on capital projects and N231.5 million on recurrent expenditure.
The Senate had made it clear that Lawal and his collaborators in the IDP financial mess would not escape justice. It maintained that those involved would face the law no matter how highly placed.
According to reports none of the bidders for the PINE contracts had the full requirements stipulated in section 16 of the public Procurement Act and thus none was eligible to be awarded contract.
There were cases of how the committee found 40 trucks of grains meant for IDP were diverted and how the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Dispalced Persons rendered unaccountable services, neglecting the Boko Haram victim.