SERAP, HURIWA urge Buhari to prosecute Lawal, Oke

A group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged the prosecution of the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke.

A statement yesterday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, said: “This is a positive development in the fight against grand corruption.”

“Although this decision is coming rather late, President Muhammadu Buhari now has to go a step further by making sure that both Lawal and Oke are promptly brought to justice in fair trials.”

The group urged the president to urgently hand them over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission
(ICPC).

The statement reads: “Buhari also has to move swiftly to publish the report of the investigation into the secret reinstatement of the fugitive former civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina.

“He should without delay identify and bring to justice to anyone, suspected to have been involved. This government now has a real opportunity to reassure Nigerians who may be worried about the direction of the president’s anti-corruption agenda.

Also, a pro-democracy group Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), supported that they should be tried.

A joint statement in Abuja, by the National Coordinator, Mr. Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss. Zainab Yusuf disclosed this.

HURIWA criticised Buhari for failing to use the sacking of the erstwhile SGF to balance the clear lopsidedness in the composition of his kitchen cabinet that is dominated by Northern Hausa/Fulani Muslims and completely alienated the southeast of the country.

HURIWA tasked all credible civil rights bodies to monitor the anti-graft bodies, whenever the sacked officials are eventually arrested to prevent compromise due to their influence in the government.

The presidency had said in a statement that the sacking followed the recommendation of the Vice President Yemi Ossinbajo’s panel. A new SGF, Boss Mustapha, has been appointed to replace Lawal.