Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,who heads a three-man Presidential Investigative Panel on the allegations against suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal and Director General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ayodele Oke has issued a statement which ended on a tough note.
The vice president who spoke through his media aide, Laolu Akande, on Saturday said the panel will carry out its functions “without fear or favour.”
According Akande: “The panel which is expected to submit its report to the President at the expiration of the 14-day deadline, will conduct its work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.”
It was not immediately clear what prompted this tough pronouncement from the Vice President’s office. But media reports Saturday had focused on the fact that heads of relevant agencies have been either invited or they had appeared before panel to give evidence. Another yet to be confirmed report was the allegation that the $43million found in an Ikoyi apartment may have been released by the Jonathan administration.
Read the full text of the Vice President’s Statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE WORK OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INVESTIGATIVE PANEL
The Presidential Committee ordered earlier this week by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe certain allegations against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Mr. Ayo Oke has commenced its work in earnest.
President Buhari on Wednesday established the 3-man panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, with Attorney-General & Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami and National Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Babagana Munguno as members, to investigate allegations of legal and due process violations made against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos.
In the discharge of its work, the panel is expected to invite all relevant officials and private individuals who may be connected to both cases. It will also obtain and scrutinize documents that may throw some light on the issues raised in both cases. All its proceedings will however be in closed sessions to avoid speculations, allow for full disclosure and enhance the pace of proceedings.
The panel which is expected to submit its report to the President at the expiration of the 14-day deadline, will conduct it’s work with utmost diligence and without fear or favour.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
April 22, 2017
