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Nigerians recommend punishment for Lawal and Oke

President Muhammed Buhari sacked the director general, National Intelligence Agency Ayodele Oke and Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  Mr Babachir Lawal over the corruption mess they were found guilty of. The vice President Yemi Osinbajo submitted the panel’s report on August 23 to President Buhari on his return from 100 days medial vacation in London. The panel was earlier scheduled to submit its report to President Buhari on May 8, but he left Nigeria for the United Kingdom on May 7 for a follow-up consultation with his doctors and stayed for 100 days.

Lawal was investigated for allegedly awarding N200 million contract for the cutting of grass in Yobe State to Global Vision Limited,  a company he had interest, under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). A Senate Committee on Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East had indicted Lawal and demanded his resignation and prosecution.

While Oke was investigated over the discovery of $43.4 million at apartment 7B in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos. He had claimed that the money belonged to the NIA and was approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan for some covert operations. 

The presidential panel was mandated to uncover the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds and find out how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA as well as to establish whether or not there was a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds. 

The president accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr. Lawal and has appointed Mr. Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The appointment takes immediate effect. 

Meanwhile, President Buhari also approved the recommendation to terminate the appointment of Ambassador Oke and has further approved the setting up of a three-member panel to, among other things, look into the operational, technical and administrative structure of the agency (NIA) and make appropriate recommendations.

encomium.ng sampled opinion of Nigerians on recommended punishment for Lawal and Oke.

Below are their responses…

 

AISHAT JAKANOLA

There is no remedy in their case, they will definitely be punished after sacking them because they’ve committed an offence and there is a reward for it. In case of other people who are trying to do the same thing, they will use them as scapegoats to others.

 

ADEWALE AYINDE

Yes, they should not encourage such things from them, they should be punished according to their offence.

 

OLAJUMOKE HAJIMOH

Yes, so far they committed the offence, they should punish them. Especially if they find guilty in the court then the judge will make his judgement according to the law.

 

AREGBESOLA IBRAHIM

They should be punished because how would someone steal billions of naira and still be walking free. No, things should not be done that way, they should charge them to court and if truly they are found guilty, they should be punished according to the law.

 

ESTHER THOMPSON 

He should be duly punished. Nobody is above the law. Buhari’s corruption team is actually working but they had to be prosecuted in order for their punishment to be complete, they shouldn’t just be sacked because there are more to it than meet the eyes.

 

PETER JOSEPH

Yes, they should be punished because after all, they’ve been found guilty. The Federal government should not only sack but they should also be prosecuted in order for them to serve their punishment.

 

ABIOLA S ADEMOYEGUN

They should be apprehended and left to face the judgement because they are not above the law.

 

DAMILOLA RACHAEL

The president needs to punish them according to the law so that it will be a lesson to others and we all have it in mind that we are all equal to law. And it will even reduce the corruption cases among our leaders.

 

– Shukurat Alimi for encomium.ng

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