President Muhammad Buhari has appointed Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo to head a three-man probe panel to investigate allegation of graft against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and Director General (DG), National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassador Ayo Oke.
Other members of the committee are the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser.
The constitution of the probe panel followed the immediate suspension from office of the duo on Monday by President Buhari pending the conclusion of investigations of the case.
A statement by Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Buhari on media and publicity said the probe panel is expected to turn in their report in 14 days time.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered an investigation into the allegations of violations of law and due process made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr David Babachir Lawal, in the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations” Adesina said in the statement.
“In a related development, the President has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.
“The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds. The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation,” he stated further.
