Buhari suspends SGF, NIA bosses

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ayodele Oke.

had exclusively reported that Oke will be fired after the NIA claimed ownership of the N13B found in an Ikoyi, Lagos apartment by the EFCC, last week.

On his part, SGF Lawal has been accused of enriching himself from funds earmarked for developing the terrorist ravaged north east region of Nigeria.

The senate has long recommended Lawal's sack for allegedly awarding a grass cutting contract worth N200M, in Yobe State, to a company he owns.

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Here's a press statement from the president's spokesperson, Femi Adesina, on the development:

The President has also directed the suspension of the SGF from office pending the outcome of the investigations.

In a related development, the President has ordered a full scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos, over which the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has made a claim.

The investigation is also to enquire into the circumstances in which the NIA came into possession of the funds, how and by whose or which authority the funds were made available to the NIA, and to establish whether or not there has been a breach of the law or security procedure in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

The President has also directed the suspension of the Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, pending the outcome of the investigation.

A three-man Committee comprising the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and the National Security Adviser, headed by the Vice President, is to conduct both investigations.

The Committee is to submit its report to the President within 14 days.

The most senior Permanent Secretary in the SGF's office, and the most senior officer in the NIA, are to act, respectively, during the period of investigation.