SGF Lawal in "Grass-Cutting" Contract Scandal Been Cleared by President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate in response to the lawmakers’ indictment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and consequent call for his removal and prosecution.

Buhari, in his letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on Tuesday, defended Lawal and gave reasons he could not act as demanded by the Senate.

Lawal had denied the allegations by the Senate, dismissed the Senate as saying “balderdash”, and accused the lawmakers of attempt “to bring him him down at all cost”.

In his reaction conveyed through a letter read by Saraki on Tuesday, President Buhari said the SGF was not given fair hearing before the indictment.

He said Lawal said neither the SGF nor the company said to have been used to perpetrate the alleged illegality was invited by the the Shehu Sani-committee.

He also said the report of the committee was signed by three of the nine members of the ad hoc commitee, thus making its report a minority report .

Consequently, the president said he had no choice than to not to act against Lawal as canvassed by the Senate.

But in a quick reaction, Senator Sani raised a point of order to defend his committee’s report.

He said Buhari’s claims were false, insisting that SGF Lawal and other parties were involved and his committee had evidence.

He also said 7 of 9 members of the committee signed the report, not 3 of 9 as claimed.