The Nigerian presidency has detailed reasons why President Muhammadu Buhari remains silent on the several cases of corruption under his administration, PoliticsNGR has learned.
According to President Buhari’s special assistant on prosecutions, Chief Okoi Obono Obla, the president has been quiet because he wanted to follow due process. He pointed out that the Ministry of health and Senate panels that Investigated the Executive Secretary of the National health insurance scheme and the secretary general to the government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal lacked the powers to investigate crime.
In his words; “The Senate that attempted to investigate it did not have the power (to do so). It cannot investigate crime; the Senate can only carry out its oversight function to expose corruption, inefficiency, maladministration in the process of lawmaking.
It (Senate) should report to the ICPC; it should report to the EFCC. An administrative panel of enquiry (the Osinbajo-led panel ) has submitted its report to the President. After that, a committee would be set up to review and then come out with a White Paper.
It is not automatic. A White Paper would be the government’s position on the issue. The committee can make 10 recommendations and the White Paper may accept two. So, the President is in that process of coming out with a report.
So, the President must follow due process before coming to a conclusion. Even if that report comes out, the President does not have powers to investigate the crime.
The Nigeria Police Force, EFCC, ICPC, and so on are the only bodies that have powers to investigate the crime. That matter has to be investigated and if a prima facie case is established, then that person can be taken to court. Nigerians must just be patient.”
