The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, says there is no connection between the detention of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s statement.
Acting Spokesman of the commission, Samin Amaddin, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Abuja on Friday that both incidents were coincidental, and contrary to insinuation in some quarters.
Mr Lawal was detained by the commission on Wednesday, barely 24 hours after Obasanjo issued a statement accusing the present administration of shielding its corrupt allies.
The timing of the EFCC’s action on the former SGF sparked speculation by some Nigerians that the government is either trying to divert attention from Mr Obasanjo’s statement or appease the former leader.
But Mr Amaddin dismissed the suggestion, saying Mr Lawal was invited by the commission long before the former president issued his statement.
“When we are doing investigation, we don’t have a fixed time. Those speculating should have realised that several contractors are involved in this matter, and they were all invited, even banks.
“We have been working on this case since May 2017, so it is not a thing that just cropped up.
“We are neither a political party nor politicians. We don’t have any relationship with what they are talking about. We are just doing our work.
“If the detention coincides with the letter, that is a different thing. Why are those talking not linking other people we have been inviting with Mr Obasanjo’s letter?’’
However, some sections of the media indicated that the arrest and detention of the former SGF by the operatives of the EFCC was a political gimmick designed to deceive Nigerian populace.
A source revealed that the former SGF was detained at a special luxurious apartment located within the vicinity of the EFCC Headquarters in Wuse 2, Abuja.
“The apartment where the former SGF was supposedly detained is equipped with all amenities obtainable at most billion Naira homes in Maitama, Abuja.
“He had access to plasma television equipped with DSTV, Air Conditioning, Telephone services, his driver, his mobile phones, access to the internet and access to all his associates.
“This is unlike all other EFCC suspects who are stripped of all communication gadgets, the former SGF was provided with a luxurious sleeping bed and unfettered movement around the complex.
“He was not acting as someone in detention,” the source who spoke to 247ureports.com said.
The source pointed to the 13-page letter by a former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, as being the major reason behind the sudden action by the EFCC. The former SGF was arrested a day after the letter was made public.
The letter had complained of nepotism and weak stance against corruption – particularly when it affects the president’s associates.
According to the letter, there is “nepotic deployment bordering on clannishness and inability to bring discipline to bear on errant members”.
