$25bn NNPC contract scandal: Buhari’s integrity at stake —Middle Belt group

The Middle Belt Patriotic Front, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to protect his integrity and take necessary action that will justify the fight against corruption.

This was part of a reaction to the controversies trailing the letter of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu to the president, alleging irregularities in the $24 billion contract awards and insubordination by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru.

Convener of the group, Mr Ibrahim Bunu told Sunday Tribune in an interview, that the silence of the Presidency on the allegation and that of the suspended Secretary to the Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, and others, did not do well to convince Nigerians that the President Buhari-led administration was actually out to fight corruption.

"There are glaring instances of corrupt practices that have not been investigated. The former SGF was investigated, but the report was not made public. Baru's case too is being handled as a family affair.

"President Buhari should speak out on these issues and allow the appropriate anti-graft agencies handle the matter, instead of handling it with levity. It is a state matter, not a family one. Mr. President's integrity is at stake. Baru should proceed on suspension to pave the way for thorough investigation of the allegations against him. Otherwise, the anti-corruption war will look selective.

In the same vein, a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Simon Mwadkon, said the anti-corruption crusade of the administration had collapsed, adding that all those alleged to have been involved in corrupt practices in the government were being shielded.

"One would have expected the president to immediately act on the letter by the Dr Kachikwu and place Baru on suspension for proper investigation."

Mwadkon told Sunday Tribune that the manner the government handled the issue of the SGF, by suspending him from office, was good.

He, however, added that the silence over the report of the committee that investigated him was questionable.

"Something similar happened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the GMD of NNPC, Mr Andrew Yakubu, was immediately removed.  Where is the fight against corruption? It is better the government forget about the fight against corruption. As far as I am concern, this government is simply observing table manner".

Hon. Mwadkon told Sunday Tribune that the way and manner the government handled the issue of the former SGF was good by suspending him from office but added that the silence over the report of the committee that investigated him was questionable.

"Suspension of BabachirLawal was in order but nothing is heard about him again. The report has been submitted, we want to see more action on his case. Does it mean, if you are caught, you cannot be prosecuted, this is double standard" he said.

 

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