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Tag: Mr. Babachir David Lawal

  • Lawal/Oke : Senate vows to expose more corrupt Nigerians

    Lawal/Oke : Senate vows to expose more corrupt Nigerians

    The Senate Tuesday vowed to expose more corrupt Nigerians following the sack of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Director General, Ayo Oke.

    The declaration followed personal explanation by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah.

    Na’Allah who represents Kebbi South drew the attention of the Senate to the termination of the appointments of Lawal and Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He reminded his colleagues that the issues that led to the sack of Lawal emanated from the Senate when the upper chamber, after investigation, returned a verdict of guilt on the former SGF.

    Na’Allah also said that the issues that resulted in the sack of the former Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina, started with the investigation of Maina for alleged fraud by the Senate.

    He concluded that the eventual sack of Lawal and the national outcry against the surreptitious reinstatement of Maina is a vindication of the Senate.

    Na’Allah said, “ Mr. President we cannot claim not to know that between Monday and Tuesday there has been official confirmation of the appointment of a new Secretary to the Government of the Federation and of course, the termination or whatever of the appointment former occupier of that office.

    “I find it necessary to say this because I believe in the statement that if we religiously keep to the oath of office and our engagement with the Nigerian public that those who have tried to bring down the institution of the Senate, God will vindicate us before their eyes.

    “The issues surrounding the termination of the appointment of the former SGF emanated from this Eight Senate.

    “Today, we have been vindicated. The issues surrounding Maina emanated from this Senate. Can we now not have the authority to shout a sign of vindication?

    “Mr. President, you remember that when  we resolved as a Senate to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, we said it here and we all took a vow here that we will do whatever that is humanly possible to live by the oath of office we have taken, defend the constitution.

    “Section 80 (2)(b) this section, the powers conferred on the National Assembly  on the provisions of the section are exercisable  only for the purpose to (a) make laws in respect to any matter within its legislative competence and to correct any defect within the existing law, (b)to expose corruption, inefficiency or waste……

    “Why it is necessary to make this statement, you will remember when we started this crusade, so many things happened.

    “Let us not be quick to forget that this same people we were fighting for, Nigerians became gullible and were sponsored, toilets were provided for them to close the gate of the National Assembly in the name of occupy NASS.

    “Every conceivable thing has been done to bring down the name of the Senate. Individually and collectively, in the social media we were stoned with everything.

    “What is important and instructive today is for me as deputy leader of this Senate to implore all my colleagues to say that the task before you in the protection of the constitution and the laws of the federation which is the basis of the engagement with the people who elected us is not a small task.

    “That is why you see that the oath of office given to you says you should do that without fear or favour.

    “I am proud of this Senate and I will remain proud of this Senate even in my grave.

    “What I’m going to say is that we have other investigations still pending. It is important that the committees that are charged with the investigations should please expeditiously turn in their report so that at the end of the day, we will have cause to glorify God that the burden placed upon us by those who elected us to office has been discharged to the best of our ability.

    “This is why I am calling on all other committees that have pending investigations to do so.

    “In conclusion, it is important for Nigerians to understand that it does them no good to embark on denigration of institutions that are vested with the responsibilities to discharge these things especially the National Assembly.

    “And those who have core wisdom or lack of it in spending money to spread falsehood all over, in order to demean the institution of the National Assembly should know that they are doing no good to the population of 170 million Nigerians that elected us and gave us the responsibility to represent them in this chamber.

    “Mr. President, I once again congratulate the 8th Senate. I am very proud of you, and I will remain very proud of you. We must keep the flag flying.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed up what Na’Allah said without allowing debate said:

    “It has been a tough journey to defend the institution. I want to commend the government for doing what is right.

    “When we started it was just blackmail, we will continue in our commitment to fight corruption, non-selective.

    “We will not renege on our promise to expose corruption, any case that is brought to us we assure you that we will investigate it and expose it.

    “There are a few investigations going on, committees ensure that your investigations are concluded on time and you submit you reports.”

  • Babachir to appear before Senate panel Thursday

    Babachir to appear before Senate panel Thursday

    The suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal is expected to appear before the Senate ad hoc committee that investigated the N200 million contract scam that earned him suspension by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He is being invited for questioning over his alleged role in the mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the North East.

    He is expected to appear before the panel at 10am.

    The Senate had indicted Lawal in an interim report submitted by the Senator Shehu Sani led committee. He was indicted for breaching relevant provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    Lawal, who is currently being investigated by a presidential panel, was fingered to have run foul of the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations on the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on North-East (PINE).

    After spurning invitation by the senate panel on two occasions, Lawal was invited again in fulfillment of the principle of fair hearing, which he complained was not extended to him by the Senate panel.

    The invitation letter to Babachir which was signed by the clerk to the adhoc committee, Mr.  Barau Bungudu, asked the suspended SGF to appear for fresh hearing.

    The letter inviting Lawal to the investigative hearing read in part, “You may recall that the Ad-hoc Committee had invited you to appear before it for the second time on Wednesday, 15th March, 2017.

    “The Committee has granted your request conveyed in your letter dated 22nd March, 2017, and re-scheduled the meeting.

    “By this letter, I am directed to formally invite you to appear before the Committee on Thursday, 27th April, 2017“.

     

  • Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    Senate resolves to begin screening of ambassadorial nominees

    —Ebonyi, Ondo, Plateau candidates failed appointment criteria, says Senate report

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to commence immediate consideration and screening of 47 career ambassadorial nominees sent to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The list of the ambassadorial nominees was submitted to the Senate on June 9th, 2016 for consideration and confirmation.

    The resolution of the upper chamber followed the recommendations of its committee on Foreign Affairs which considered as series petitions alleging irregularities and lopsidedness in the appointment of the nominees.

    The Senator Monsurat Sunmonu headed committee which considered the petitions recommended that the screening of the nominees should begin immediately.

    Vice Chairman of the committee, Senator Shehu Sani presented the report of the committee to Senate in plenary.

    The reported stated that from the presentation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal who appeared before the committee to clarify issues surrounding the criteria for the appointment, candidates from states that were not represented in the list of 47 did not meet the requirements for appointment.

    The report also said that some senior officers from the omitted states either did not meet the required minimum of 30 months to their retirement or fell short of other criteria used for the appointment.

    The committee said that from its findings due process appeared to have been followed in the appointment of the nominees.

    The report said that the SGF assured that President Buhari would to address the seeming lopsidedness with the appointment of non-career ambassadors.

    The committee said that its findings informed its recommendation that the Senate should proceed with the screening of the nominees.

    It however urged the Federal Government to quickly submit the list of non-career ambassadors to assuage the feeling of marginisation  by some states.

    It asked the government to sustain the tradition of submitting the list of career and non-career ambassadorial nominees at the same time.

    The upper chamber adopted all the recommendation of the committee and resolved to begin the screening of the nominees.

    Senators from Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba had raised objection to the list because their states were not represented.

    After the resolution, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa State) insisted that “fairness is fairness.”

    Paulker said that he expected that with 47 appointments, at one would go to each state of the federation while the remaining 11 may be used to favour some states.

    He said that Bayelsa has many level 16 officers in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

    He added that the Federal Character principles should have been adopted.

  • Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    Ministers, SGF shun Senate invitation

    The frosty relationship existing between the Presidency and the Senate further deepen Thursday.

    Three ministers and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir David Lawal, summoned by the Senate to appear before its separate committees failed to honour the invitation.

    The development emerged as Senate Thursday adjourned plenary for three weeks to observe its end of session.

    The Senate, Thursday, got messier, as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal and four Ministers, shunned summons extended to them by the Upper Legislative Chamber.

    Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mallam Ababakar Malami, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama; and Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, were invited to face various Senate committees to clear certain grey areas.

    Specially, the Senate summoned the AGF on Tuesday to appear before its committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to explain why the suit against Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules of 2015 became necessary.

    This resolution to invite the AGF followed the adoption of a motion of national urgent importance raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West).

    On the other hand, the SGF, Mr. Lawal and Foreign Affairs Minister, Onyeama did not also turn up to clarify in honour of their invitation.

    Lawal and Onyeama were invited to explain the criteria adopted in the selection of ambassadorial nominees recently forwarded to the Senate for consideration and confirmation by President Buhari.

    While Minister of Communications, Mr. Shittu who was invited by the Senate committee on Communications to explain the reduction of the fine imposed on MTN for alleged operational misconduct by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

    Shittu did not also show up.

    The MTN sanction was originally N1.04 trillion, later reduced to N780 billion and again reduced to N330 billion by the Federal Government.

    The non-appearance of the Minister of Communications may have prompted a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Communication, Senator Gilbert Nnaji which got Senate nod to summon the Minister and some other stakeholders once again.

    The two prayers of the motion asked Senate to “Direct the Committee on Communication to invite all the relevant stakeholders including the Minister of Justice, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister of Communication, executive vice chairman of NCC, Governor of Central Bank, managing director MTN Nigeria Limited and all other parties involved in all negotiations of the MTN deal to shed light on the matter especially whether the reduction was in accordance with the regulation of the NCC governing fines and penalties.

    To “Urge the Federal Government to move the initial amount of N50 billion from the CBN recovery account to the CBN/NCC treasury single account.”

    The prayers were unanimously adopted.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki directed the committee chairman report back in two weeks by the time the Senate resumes from its break.

    Nnaji noted in his lead debate that Senate is aware that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) enabled by the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 is the statutory regulator for the telecommunications industry in Nigeria.

    He said that as the regulator, the commission has been imposing fines on erring telecom operators over the years and proceeds from the redemption of such fines have been lodged in the commission’s designated account.

    The Enugu East lawmaker recalled that in October 2015, in line with the Nigerian Communications Commission Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulation, 2011, the Nigerian Communications Commission imposed a fine of N1.04 trillion on MTN Communications Nigeria Limited for failing to deactivate 5.2 million unregistered subscribers on its network.

    He prayed the Senate to note that Section 19 and 20 of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) registration of telephone subscribers’ regulation 2011 does not empower the commission or another entity or government officials to reduce any fine so imposed.

    Nnaji regretted that the MTN fine was unilaterally reduced from N780 billion without the input of the Ministry of Communications and the NCC which “constitutes a flagrant breach of this regulation and an attempt to whittle down the authority of the commission.”

    He added that through some negotiation process excluding the ministry and the commission but championed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation; MTN was requested to pay the sum of N50 billion as a gesture of good faith towards the settlement of the fine.

    “Mr President, the Senate recalls that the attendant confusion created by the claim and counter claim over the veracity of the payment of the said N50 billion by MTN and the domiciliation of the money in a CBN recovery account, as if the money in question was a stolen fund, prompted the committee on communications to embark on a fact finding meeting of all stakeholders involved on March 10, 2016.

    “These included the Attorney General of the Federation, Accountant General of the Federation, Minister for Communications, Governor of Central bank of Nigeria, executive vice chairman of NCC, and the managing director MTN Nigeria Limited.

    “The senate regrets to discover by the admission of the accountant general of the federation at the meeting that the said N50 billion was actually lost in a CBN recovery account on the instruction of the accountant general of the federation.

     

    “Further regret to discover through a document available to the committee that MTN had already made a proposal of final payment of N300 billion as at the time of the meeting of the meeting in March which led the committee to conclude that there was a secret agreement between MTN, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation to admit the N50 billion as the commencement of the execution of a final agreement of N300 billion.

     

    “The senate alarmed to observe that the reduced fine of N780 billion was further slashed to N330 billion through a settlement payment plan that smacks of unpatrotism and insensitivity of the parties that agreed to the new amount in spite of the economic plight currently facing the country.

     

    “The senate laments that Nigeria has been shortchanged in this whole process of account of the ridiculous settlement payment plan coupled with the disparity in the exchange rate regime when the fine was imposed abinitio compared with the current prevailing exchange rate where the value of naira is taking a downward slide.

    “The senate notes therefore as the representatives of the Nigerian people we are saddened about this development coming at a time when the Nigerian economy needs all the available capital infusion to bolster it,” Nnaji said.

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