SGF gives 2 different reasons for not appearing before Senate [PHOTO]

monjola sotubo

March 23, 2017 12:14 PM

Lawal had earlier sent a letter to the Senate stating that he was challenging its invitation in court and as such would not be able to appear.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF),

Lawal had earlier sent a letter to the Senate stating that he was challenging the upper chamber’s invitation in court and as such would not be able to honour it.

“I wish to kindly request that you draw the attention of the other members of the committee that I will not be able to appear before the committee primarily because I have gone to court to challenge the invitation among others,” he wrote.

However, Lawal has sent a fresh letter to the Senate saying that he would not be able to appear before it because of a pressing government engagement.

“I wish to kindly request that you draw the attention of the other members of the committee that I will not be able to appear before the committee primarily because of a pressing engagement of Government which clashed with the date and time of the hearing. I kindly request a rescheduling of the hearing, please,” the new letter read.

Lawal is expected to appear before the Senate’s ad hoc Committee on Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East, which is investigating allegations that he misappropriated funds meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the troubled region.

The committee, which is chaired by Senator Shehu Sani, submitted a report indicting Lawal on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, leading the Senate to call for the SGF’s resignation and prosecution.

ALSO READ: Senate summons SGF, Babachir Lawal again

President Muhammadu Buhari however refused to sack Lawal saying that the Senate had not given him a right to fair hearing.

monjola sotubo