THE suspended Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, David Babachir Lawal, yesterday, snubbed the Senate again, refusing to appear before the Ad-hoc Committee on Humanitarian Crises in the North-East.
Lawal was summoned by the committee to appear before it for questioning over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds allocated for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North-East.
The public hearing, which was scheduled for 10 a.m., yesterday, at the SGF’s request, did not hold as he kept all the committee members waiting for two hours without honouring the summons.
Senators who waited for him included Committee Chairman, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central); Senator Ben Murray Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa East); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central); Senator Ali Wakil (APC, Bauchi South) and Senator Tayo Alasoadura (APC, Ondo Central).
Reacting to the development, the Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Shehu Sani, expressed dissatisfaction over the recalcitrant behaviour of the SGF, adding that the committee would submit its report to the entire Senate next Tuesday.
He noted that the public hearing would have been an opportunity for the SGF to clear himself of some vexed issues.
Sani, who also noted that Lawal’s decision not to appear before the committee was deliberate, however, alleged that security men working for the embattled official also turned back officials who went to his private residence to serve him invitation letter to the session.
Sani disclosed that the committee had sent its interim report to the presidential panel, based on request.
In addition, Senator Ben Murray Bruce noted that it was probable that his appearance would have allowed him clarify issues that were of positive effect in his situation, adding that those advising him against appearing before the Senate Committee were not helping matters.
Senator Bruce said: “It is very sad that we are here today to conclude our investigation on this very important matter, and the former SGF did not show up. This is like a man holding a knife with a jagged edge and stabbing himself.
No comments:
Post a Comment