President buhari suspends sgf babachir lawal nia boss ayo oke

A significant event in Nigerian politics!

On October 30, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari suspended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke, amidst allegations of corruption and abuse of office.

The suspension was announced by the President's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement. The President also set up a committee to investigate the allegations against the two officials.

The suspension of SGF Lawal was linked to his alleged involvement in the mismanagement of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, as well as the alleged diversion of funds meant for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East region of Nigeria.

Similarly, the suspension of NIA DG Oke was linked to the discovery of $43 million in cash and other assets in a residential apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, which was allegedly linked to the NIA.

The President's action was seen as a major step towards tackling corruption in the country, and many Nigerians welcomed the move. However, the suspensions also sparked controversy, with some critics arguing that the President was slow to act against corruption and that the suspensions were a mere tokenistic gesture.

In the end, SGF Lawal was eventually sacked in April 2018, while NIA DG Oke was also dismissed from office. The suspensions and eventual sackings were seen as a major victory for anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria, and a demonstration of the President's commitment to tackling corruption in his administration.