Youths Under the umbrella of the Coalition of
Nigerian Youths in Defence of Democracy (CONYDD) has chided the Senate
over its call for the removal of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Lawal Babachir, terming it as “a vendetta and vindictive
cause.”
The coalition frowned at the speed at which the Senate used
in sitting on a report termed interim only to indict the SGF who has
not been given a fair hearing to defend himself as is the case in
international best practice.
Recall Senate recently asked President Muhammadu Buhari to
suspend and ensure prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Babachir Lawal, over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in
handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North
East, PINE.
This was the thrust of the coalition when it held a press
conference anchored by its national coordinator, Comrade Abdulrahman
Andoma yesterday, just as he averred that this latest onslaught by the
Senate may be as a result of President Muhammdu Buhari’s intolerance to
interfere with corruption cases of party members leading to the refusal
of the Senate to reject the confirmation of the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu.
Andoma said: “We are apprehensive that within a month of
flipping into a few documents they are directly indicting someone who is
even yet to have a level playing field to tender his side of the story.
“We would like to challenge the legal and moral grounds the
committee has to recommend outright sacking and subsequent prosecution
of a principal officer when fair hearing have not been given to the
individual. This is only callous and a contradiction to what a
democratic institution like the Senate stands for. “
The coalition wondered why “Such Speedy conclusions reached
by the Senate give room for speculations that the President is being
punished for refusing to interfere in all party and corruption related
cases even if it meant favouring a few. Abba Kyari who is the
President’s Chief Staff was among the first victims, then the SGF, and
now one of the henchmen of the anti-graft war has not been confirmed by
the senate.”
Leadership
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