President finally grows some balls

A statement from the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina read as follows:

“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

“The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.

"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 in a residential apartment at 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".

This is no doubt a welcome development.

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For months, Lawal has been kept on and shielded by the presidency amid growing allegations that he receives kickbacks in the course of his duty.

For months, the presidency has defended Lawal in the face of mounting allegations from the senate that he awarded a contract worth N200M to a company he owns.

A senate committee investigating how funds meant to develop a war ravaged north east region was expended, has called out Lawal for corrupt activities.

Top ranking Aso Villa officials have told Pulse time and again that Lawal is as corrupt as they come.

Media reports on Lawal’s allegedly corrupt practices were a truck-load even before the turn of the year.

But Buhari had kept Lawal on regardless.

When the NIA claimed ownership of the now controversial $50M found in an Ikoyi apartment, Pulse immediately recommended the sack of Oke, the agency’s boss.

There were several questions the NIA has been unable to answer since it claimed ownership of what has been suspected to be illicit funds.

Firing or suspending Oke, pending the outcome of investigations, was always a no-brainer.

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When Pulse sat with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo alongside other journalists at the presidential villa last week, questions bordering on why the presidency keeps shielding and harbouring those within its ranks perceived to be corrupt, dominated the conversation.

Osinbajo denied that the presidency was shielding anyone.

Dwelling on Lawal for a bit, Osinbajo said the President had only demanded for a fair hearing from the senators.

In saner climes, Lawal would have been suspended eons ago pending the outcome of investigations.

Once your integrity as a public official is called to question elsewhere, you take a walk from office or get fired.

It's just the way it works elsewhere.

However, it’s better late than never in this scenario.

Suspending Oke and Lawal should hopefully send a stern message to the rest of the corrupt within and around the Buhari presidency.

A message that says this President hasn't lost his disdain for corruption.

Buhari was elected precisely for this reason—to decisively deal with corruption and graft; vices that have undermined the enormous potential of Africa’s biggest economy for far too long--even if that means sacrificing members of his own team.

The President has been pilloried in the past for turning a deaf ear to mounting allegations of corruption levelled against some of the persons he hired.

ALSO READ: Buhari set to fire NIA boss

Oke may not have been hired by Buhari, but as soon as he claimed ownership of the Ikoyi cash haul, he put himself in an untenable position.

Soon after he was suspended, Osinbajo pulled Lawal into his office for a chat. State house correspondents swore Lawal betrayed some emotion as he emerged, claiming he didn't know he had been sacked.

Poor internet?

On the other hand, Oke was turned back at the Villa gates as he attempted one last meeting with Osinbajo. Some say the NIA boss was getting teary-eyed as he sought for an audience with Osinbajo.

Hopefully, Lawal and Oke are eventually sacked if investigations find them culpable of financial infractions.

They are a disgrace.

Hopefully, this is a new Buhari—a President whose famed anti-corruption balls may have suddenly returned.