We stand by report that indicted SGF, Babachir – Senate

Spokesman of the Senate, Abdullahi Sabi, has said that they still stand by the report, which indicted Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, of corruption.
Senators called for the immediate sack of Lawal, after an adhoc committee accused him of receiving N200milion, for the clearing of invasive plant species in Yobe State.

However, President Muhammadu Buhari rejected the verdict and insisted Lawal was not given a fair hearing.

Speaking on a Channels TV programme on Wednesday, Sabi stated that Lawal was invited to appear before the committee, but he chose to send a representative instead.
“The report which we based our decision on is an interim report which means that there will still be a final report,” he said.
“Now, the chairman of that adhoc committee has told the senate and by implication Nigerians that in the next couple of days, that report will be finalised.

“Absolutely, the senate stands by the Interim report, we still stand by the interim report because we follow legislative processes.

“The chairman, Shehu Sani has made it clear that we will have rather more additional issues raised in the final report and not much, if any will actually change in respect of the interim report. Nothing has been provided to change what they said in the interim report.
“The question of fair hearing by our procedures – every public hearing that we do is advertised. There was an advertisement and all the stakeholders were expected to appear before that committee.
“The SGF was formally invited, there was a letter where the permanent secretary in the SGF office stated that they have sent a representative who swore on oath that he is competent to answer all questions raised.

“If you delegate and the person you delegated is incompetent, I think you should hold yourself responsible for whatever comes out. I don’t think that is something that should be passed on to the senate.

“When you are summoned to appear before the national assembly and you claim that you are busy, then what are we doing? Are we deepening the democratic process in Nigeria? Or we are trying to create some super human beings?
“Also the house of reps said they also had a similar intervention where they invited him and he didn’t appear.”