A non-governmental organisation based in Benin City, Edo State capital, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, has called on the Federal Government to set up an independent investigative panel to unravel the mystery behind the N32 billion recovered in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi Lagos recently by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The group made this call while hailing the government’s negotiations with the Boko Haram sect that led to the safe return of 82 girls who had been in captivity for three years.
A statement released to the media on Wednesday by ANEEJ executive director, Rev David Ugolor, said the unrelenting effort of the Buhari government to secure the release of the girls was worthy of commendation, especially at a time when all hope seemed lost.
“We urge the federal government to continue to work with the same effort to negotiate the release of the remaining girls in captivity,” Rev Ugolor said.
He said if the government tackles issues of corruption in Nigeria with the same resolve with which it has pursued and negotiated the release of the 82 Chibok girls, corruption would
be a thing of the past in Nigeria.
On the presidential panel set up by Mr. President to look into the case of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and DIG of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, ANEEJ called for an independent body rather than the presidency setting up an investigative panel of inquiry.
“The initial panel headed by the Attorney General of the Federation, had already carried out an investigation and submitted its report to Mr. President. What we are witnessing now is that the Osinbajo panel report on the erstwhile SGF and DIG is now in limbo because Mr. President is away on medical leave and action cannot be taken’, Ugolor said.
“We believe that the proper thing must be done by the setting up of an independent panel to investigate the allegations against the SGF and DIG to logical conclusion. ANEEJ suggests that this independent panel can begin their investigations irrespective of the Osinbajo panel, so as to come up with a trusted and credible document which would promote the course of justice and reduce corruption in governance.”
