The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , Mr . Abubakar Malami ( SAN) , is scheduled to meet President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday ( today ) , on the probe the minister was directed to carry out on top government officials accused of corruption, The PUNCH has learnt .
A top government official , who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, on Thursday, expressed optimism that the probe might form part of the discussion between the President and the AGF.
The source said the meeting between Buhari and the minister was scheduled for 12noon before the President would proceed for the Jumat prayers .
He said , “ I can confirm to you that a meeting between President Buhari and the Minister of Justice has already been scheduled for Friday.
“ The minister is scheduled to brief the President . Although it is not clear what he will brief him on in view of the assignment recently given to him , it is very possible that the probe will come up.
“ What I do not know is whether he will present the report at the meeting or he will only give the President an update . ”
Buhari had, on December 18, 2016, directed Malami to probe all top government officials accused of corruption.
In announcing the presidential directive , the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , had said any of the government officials found guilty of the allegations levelled against them would not escape prosecution .
Based on that directive , the AGF had queried the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Babachir Lawal ; and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu , on the allegations levelled against them .
They were reported to have since replied their queries .
The Senate had, on December 14, 2016, called for the removal and prosecution of the SGF following allegations that he awarded contracts to a company , in which he had interest regarding projects in the Internally Displaced Persons ’ camps in the North-East.
This followed the presentation of the interim report of the Ad hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North -East by the Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Sani .
The call for Lawal ’ s removal followed alleged contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and the Federal Government ’ s Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to award of contracts .
Presenting the report , Sani said some of the contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials ’ cronies and family members .
He explained that the committee found out that Global Vision Engineering Limited , a company, with Lawal as Director , for instance , was awarded a consultancy contract .
Sani said despite being an IT company , the firm got a job to clear grass in Yobe State for N 200m .
He said although Lawal resigned as director of the said company in September 2016, it was on record that he was a signatory to the accounts of the company.
Lawal has denied all the allegations , saying “ the Senate is talking balderdash ; it has developed a bring- him - down syndrome . ”
It was based on the allegations that Buhari asked the AGF to investigate Babachir and Magu , whose nomination as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC was rejected by the Senate based on unfavourable security report .
The Presidency had, on Saturday , said Malami had yet to submit his report .
A top government official , who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity, on Thursday, expressed optimism that the probe might form part of the discussion between the President and the AGF.
The source said the meeting between Buhari and the minister was scheduled for 12noon before the President would proceed for the Jumat prayers .
He said , “ I can confirm to you that a meeting between President Buhari and the Minister of Justice has already been scheduled for Friday.
“ The minister is scheduled to brief the President . Although it is not clear what he will brief him on in view of the assignment recently given to him , it is very possible that the probe will come up.
“ What I do not know is whether he will present the report at the meeting or he will only give the President an update . ”
Buhari had, on December 18, 2016, directed Malami to probe all top government officials accused of corruption.
In announcing the presidential directive , the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , had said any of the government officials found guilty of the allegations levelled against them would not escape prosecution .
Based on that directive , the AGF had queried the Secretary to the Government of the Federation , Babachir Lawal ; and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu , on the allegations levelled against them .
They were reported to have since replied their queries .
The Senate had, on December 14, 2016, called for the removal and prosecution of the SGF following allegations that he awarded contracts to a company , in which he had interest regarding projects in the Internally Displaced Persons ’ camps in the North-East.
This followed the presentation of the interim report of the Ad hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North -East by the Chairman of the Committee, Shehu Sani .
The call for Lawal ’ s removal followed alleged contravention of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act and the Federal Government ’ s Financial Rules and Regulations pertaining to award of contracts .
Presenting the report , Sani said some of the contracts were awarded to companies belonging to top government officials ’ cronies and family members .
He explained that the committee found out that Global Vision Engineering Limited , a company, with Lawal as Director , for instance , was awarded a consultancy contract .
Sani said despite being an IT company , the firm got a job to clear grass in Yobe State for N 200m .
He said although Lawal resigned as director of the said company in September 2016, it was on record that he was a signatory to the accounts of the company.
Lawal has denied all the allegations , saying “ the Senate is talking balderdash ; it has developed a bring- him - down syndrome . ”
It was based on the allegations that Buhari asked the AGF to investigate Babachir and Magu , whose nomination as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC was rejected by the Senate based on unfavourable security report .
The Presidency had, on Saturday , said Malami had yet to submit his report .
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