By Taiye Odewale
Abuja
, over his reactions to call for his resignation and prosecution by the Senate two days ago.
The Senate had on Wednesday called on the SGF to resign his position for allegedly contravening the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Federal Government Financial Rules and Regulations on the award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on North-east.
The resolution followed the adoption of recommendations contained in an interim report of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-east, which was considered at plenary.
But Babachir, in his reaction to the Senate’s decision, said the whole action was nothing but nonsense, balderdash and a calculated attempt to pull him down.
And in a counter reaction yesterday, the Senate at plenary described as unbecoming of
a public officer of the SGF’s status, who, according to the upper legislative chamber, has been notorious for such outbursts in public.
It therefore consequently ordered its Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions to investigate the derogatory comments against the institution of the Senate credited to the embattled SGF.
The Senate’s decision followed the adoption of a motion via a Point of Order raised by
Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) under matters of personal privileges based on the Senate Standing Orders.
Melaye said his concern stemmed from headlines of some of the national dailies and online platforms yesterday which reported Lawal’s reaction to his indictment by the Senate, as “talking rubbish”, describing it as highly unbecoming and unacceptable.
Speaking on the motion, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, said the 8th Senate was irrevocably committed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war even as he urged his fellow senators not to dignify the SGF’s utterances as they were not worth it.
Na’Allah pointed out that Lawal would have done himself a lot of good if the time he dedicated to castigating the Senate was used to defend himself of the allegations against him.
Also commenting, Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, said the issue should not be swept under the carpet.
The Senate President Bukola Saraki in his comment wondered why an appointee of the president would be rude to the Senate at a time his principal was seeking the hand of the legislature in fellowship in the interest of national development.
“The President (Buhari) came here yesterday (Wednesday) humbly telling us that he seeks our partnership, then how can his Secretary (to the Government of the Federation) say we are talking rubbish,” he said.
