We brought you news that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has been indicted over the mismanagement of IDP funds. It was revealed by the senate that a company in which Lawal is a signatory to its account was given a frivolous and inflated contract to clear “invasive plant species” in Yobe State.

The senate called for his resignation and prosecution for breaching the provisions of the Public Procurement Act by awarding a contract to his company and abusing the powers of his office. The contract was awarded by the Presidential Initiative on the North East which is under the office of the SGF. It was revealed that PINE awarded several inflated and bogus contracts totalling hundreds of millions of naira. Some of the contracts included paying millions to host conferences on the North East situation and the very ludicrous contract which is essentially grass cutting awarded to his company for N270 million

Having been indicted, one would have expected him to have done the honourable thing by resigning but he did not do that. Instead, he expressed that the report of the senate committee was to tarnish his image. This is in the face of documents tended by the senate as obtained from the Corporate Affairs Commission, proving the fact of the senate’s allegations.

The fact the SGF is treating this damning indictment of his person as nothing more than a slight irritation – the irritation that is akin to a fly buzzing around one’s ear – is troubling. It is either the SGF does not know the enormity of what he has done or he is not in the least bothered about it. As with corrupt people, they do know the illegality of what they do but do not care because they believe they are untouchable, invisible from the hand of the law.

Does the SGF believe himself untouchable? The only person that can provide this answer is the President, his boss. The actions and inactions of the President regarding this scandal will prove whether the SGF is above the law or like the rest of us, beneath it. It will prove whether the President is fighting corruption in its entirety or whether it is a targeted fight – directed at only his political opponents.

Reports coming out of the IDP camps paint a dire picture. A picture of children suffering from malnutrition and slowly dying of hunger. The senate report revealed that 30 people are made to share 1 bag of rice and 1 bag of beans for 15 days which is grossly insufficient for their needs. No wonder children are dying daily from acute malnutrition when the funds meant for their needs are siphoned my corrupt officials who do not care about the consequences millions of people in the IDP camps will face as a result.

Babachir Lawal is arrogant in his corruption. He should be made to face the music.

Roqeebah

Creative mind. Enthusiast. Learner. Multipotentialite. And here, an assistant editor.