Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, Oke, appoints new SGF

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the suspended secretary to the government of the federation Babachir Lawal and the director-general of the National Intelligence Agency Ayo Oke.

Lawal has been replaced by Mr Boss Gida Mustapha, said Buhari’s media adviser Femi Adesina. Until his appointment as SGF, Mustapha was the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).

Adesina did not state if anyone has been appointed to replace Oke.

Both men were suspended in April for their alleged complicit in separate corrupt practices.

A three-man committee comprising Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, National Security Adviser Mohammed Babagana Monguno and Attorney-General and Justice Minister Abubakar Malami was set up by President Buhari to investigate the allegations against the two men.

Lawal was grilled by the Osinbajo-led three-man Presidential panel over the N220 million meant for welfare of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in North-East, while Oke was suspended over 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 NIA made a claim.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who was elected in 2015 on a promise to tackle corruption, has come under fire since taking office for targeting political opponents.

But the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has accused him of a witch-hunt, as the overwhelming majority of those arrested and charged are PDP supporters or former ministers.

The Lawal and Oke cases have been seen as a litmus test of his commitment to prosecuting graft, regardless of political allegiances.

Buhari’s deputy, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, submitted a report into the claims in August.

The presidency has recently been embroiled in a scandal involving an indicted civil servant who went on the run after being accused of stealing two billion naira ($5.6 million).

The official managed to avoid arrest and return to Nigeria, where he was reappointed to the civil service. Buhari last week ordered his dismissal and arrest.