Buhari fires Babachir Lawal, appoints new SGF

President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Babachir Lawal, who was suspended as secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) in April.

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, who announced the sack in a statement, said Boss Mustapha, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain from Adamawa, where Lawal hails from, has been appointed as the new SGF.

Adesina said Buhari fired Lawal in line with the recommendation of the panel set up to probe the allegations levelled against him.

Ayo Oke, suspended director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), was also dismissed.

Buhari had received the report of the panel headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo since August but his silence on the issue sparked criticisms, especially from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“President Muhammadu Buhari has studied the report of the panel headed by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, which investigated allegations against the suspended secretary to the government of the federation, Mr Babachir David Lawal, and the director-general, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke,” the statement read.

“The president accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of Mr Lawal, and has appointed Mr Boss Mustapha as the new secretary to the government of the federation. The appointment takes immediate effect.

“President Buhari also approved the recommendation to terminate the appointment of Ambassador Oke, and has further approved the setting up of a three-member panel to, among other things, look into the operational, technical and administrative structure of the Agency and make appropriate.”