In a bid to ensure there is no any sort of foul play or any undue influence, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government might have tightened surveillance around the panelists probing the two suspended very senior officials of this administration, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer David Babachir Lawal, and the Director General, National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, fresh report according to Vanguard Newspaper unearthed
Both Babachir Lawal and Ayo Oke are under probe over money-related issues now generating heat in the polity and giving the country an image problem.
The three-man probe panel, which is headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, a professor of law, with Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Munguno (rtfd), was empaneled by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, just as he unceremoniously suspended the two top officials from their exalted offices.
While Engineer Lawal was suspended for allegedly awarding a N200 million grass-cutting job to firms linked to him, the President showed Ambassador Oke, the door in connection with the N13 billion fresh mint currencies hauled from an Ikoyi apartment.
A top source confirmed to Sunday Vanguard last night that the Federal Government was keenly monitoring the activities of the panel to ensure that there was no compromise on any side.
“The government does not want any infiltration or undue influence over the probe panel having learnt some bitter lessons from the Presidential Arms Probe Panel which was set up in 2015 last year.
“The implication is that everything is being monitored and nothing is being left to chance this time around,” the official said.
Although the official did not disclose the nature of the surveillance being mounted on the members, it was learnt that phone-monitoring of conversations relating to the two issues under probe could not be ruled out.
Apparently, in line with the high expectations of the Federal Government on the panelists, the Osinbajo panel, yesterday, announced it would conduct its enquiry behind closed doors to avoid speculations and to allow for full disclosure by those summoned.
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