Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged fraud of N223million.

Babachir David Laway

Be that as it may, Mr. Samin Amaddin, acting spokesman for the EFCC confirmed the arrest of the ex-SGF… “It is true. The former SGF honoured an invitation and arrived at our office around 11am on Wednesday. He was thereafter detained.”

However, Babachir’s arrest is coming few months after he was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari for financial impropriety. He is being probed by the EFCC for alleged contract scandal, violation of Public Procurement Act, abuse of office and mismanagement of funds.

Recall that two separate committees headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and the Senate Ad hoc Committee had in 2017 recommended the prosecution of Lawal and everyone involved in the alleged contract scam in the Presidential Initiative in the North-East headed by him.

Babachir was accused of awarding a N223million contract to his company, Rholavision Engineering for the removal of invasive plant species in Komadugu, Yobe Water Channels. The company was said to have been incorporated by him in 1990 for the purpose of ICT services and not for agro-business.

Also, the contracts awarded by PINE allegedly had no direct bearing to the needs of the Internally Displaced Persons. He was said to be a director of the firm till September 2016 when the contract was allegedly awarded.