Senate under fire for demanding SGF Babachir’s sack as Buhari promises probe

Senate under fire for demanding SGF Babachir’s sack as Buhari promises probe

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has accused the leadership of the National Assembly of playing to the gallery over the decision to get Lawal Babachir, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) fired.

Babachir was indicted by the Senate recently for allegedly breaching Nigeria’s law in the handling of the contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE).

Yerima Shettima says the National Assembly has no moral right to ask for Babachir's sack

But the AYCF says the decision of the Senate smacks of some hidden missions from the National Assembly.

“It is interesting to watch how desperately the Senate and the House of Representatives leadership is trying to nail the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir,” the group said in a statement signed by its national president, Alhaji Yerima Shettima.

The northern group said rather than calling on Babachir to resign, the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives should show good example by stepping aside pending the outcome of the multiple court cases that are ongoing concerning some of them.

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“We demand a demonstration of their honesty and sincerity in calling for the resignation of Babachir by making the first move.

“We are aware that Babachir's case, just like that of the CCT against Saraki and the criminal padding against Dogara are all allegations.

“So, there is no harm in asking them too to step aside in the interest of justice and fairness. Anyone can be innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

“It's as simple as that and we hope the Senate and House of Reps would follow the path of honour and not indulge in diversionary tactics,” the group said.

The AYCF noted that it was evident that the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly have skeletons in their cupboards and that these range from the asset declaration scam to the criminal padding of the 2016 budget.

“There are sundry scandals involving underhand deals with certain heads of federal government parastatals bordering on extortion.

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“Some 32 senators are involved with criminal cases in court at the moment and these cases are still fresh.

“Nearly 100 members of the House of Reps are yet to know the fate of the frightening cases against them in court. This is not counting the sexual scandal that nearly dented the nation's image in far-away United States of America, which the lower chamber's leadership would wish it is quickly forgotten, the group alleged saying the recent call for the removal of the SGF is a design to divert attention from the multiple criminal cases hanging in the neck of the lawmakers."

The AYCF warned the legislators to tread carefully “because those in glass house should learn not to throw stones.

“Let them know that Nigeria has come a long way from the era of the proverbial ostrich in the sand dunes. We now have a better enlightened electorate, watching closely developments on the democratic scene."

Meanwhile, NAIJ.com had earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari would decide the fate of Babachir after investigating the allegations against him.