‘Babachir cooperating with EFCC’

On the second night of his detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged mismanagement of about N200 million from the Presidential Initiative for the North-East, PINE, indications emerged that the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal, was sober and responding to his interrogators.


Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engineer David Babachir Lawal,
Sources said the operatives were not leaving any stone unturned in unearthing any misconduct related to the diversion of the N200 million and other scams in the PINE when Babachir held sway as SGF.

According to a source last night, “as we speak, the former SGF is still with EFCC operatives, telling them all he knows about the award of the N200 million contract to a firm allegedly belonging to him.

“I cannot say at this point if the former government scribe will be granted administrative bail on self-recognition or not.”

Meanwhile, spokesman for EFCC, Samin Ammadin, confirmed that Babachir was still with them, adding that nothing “has changed” from where he was the previous night.

It will be recalled that the EFCC, on Wednesday, detained Babachir over his alleged involvement in the N200 million contract scam.

Babachir was first suspended from office on the orders of President Muhammadu Buhari last April, when the Senate Committee headed by Senator Shehu Sani exposed how he used a firm, reportedly owned by him, to award N200 million contract to himself.

Although he claimed to have resigned from the firm after getting the top federal job, the special panel headed by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, indicted him, leading to his removal.