Amid Quiet Rift With Osinbajo, Babachir Lawal Remanded

Mr. Babachir Lawal, the immediate past Secretary to the Federal Government was on Tuesday remanded in custody pending bail hearing on Wednesday.

He was taken to an Abuja court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 10 court allegation of conspiracy and fraudulent acquisition of property.

Mr. Lawal is accused of among others of using his office as SGF awarded a N272 million grass cutting contract to a company associated to him among other misdeeds.

The issue was unveiled by a Senate Committee but President Muhammadu Buhari refused to heed the report of the Senate as he claimed that Mr. Lawal was never given enough opportunity to defend himself of the allegations made against him.

Mr. Lawal was eventually suspended and then dismissed from his office upon the report of a three man committee headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.

Mr. Lawal and his allies, however, believe that the vice president used the opportunity given to him to investigate the issue used it to cut him, Lawal to size.

Though Osinbajo’s political aspirations are still shrouded, associates of Mr. Lawal claim that until he was sacked as SGF that he was the most powerful voice in the presidency who could stand up to the vice president and still have his way.

“The grass cutting scandal was an opportunity for the vice president to get rid of his most powerful rival within the government bureaucracy,” a source privy to the power play in the villa allege.

While the Lawal associates cite political interplay in the issue raised against him, the ethical issues involved in the former SGF allegedly using fronts to win the grass cutting contract will now be determined in the court.

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