NLC: SGF Lawal’s offense is of criminal nature, shouldn’t be tried by Osinbajo

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed discomfort with President Muhammadu Buhari over his decision to conduct an in-house administrative trial of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who has been accused of abusing his office to corruptly enrich himself.

Senior officials of the labour union who spoke to newsmen on Thursday argued that ordering an in-house probe came short on expectations as the alleged offense committed by the SGF bordered on criminality.

Reacting to Buhari’s directive, General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, wondered why the office of Vice President Osinbajo should be the one to investigate criminal allegations against the SGF.

“Well, we think that it is something that is positive. There are those who will say that it has taken long, particularly the issue of the SGF. Well, government has now decided to suspend them and investigation is going on, it is fine.

“But what we don’t understand is how an administrative committee, chaired by the Vice President, will be investigating what is an alleged criminal offence. However, whatever processes they have chosen to adopt, what is important is that they need to bring the facts before the nation,” he said.

He added, “We need to know that there are no sacred cows and at the end of the day, we hope that justice will be done and citizens will be able to attest that justice has been done.”

“Once there are allegations of corruption and there are prima facie cases established while such investigation is going on, the normal practice is that people step aside, or are suspended or they remove themselves from the process.”

On his part, the National President of SSANU, Comrade Samson Chijioke Ugwoke, said: “Should Buhari be serious with his anti-graft campaign, the Presidency should not be investigating the SGF and others.

“If somebody in the Presidency is accused of corruption, the usual anti-corruption agencies that investigate other ones, should also investigate the SGF. The Presidency should not investigate Presidency, nobody should be a judge in his own case.”

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