From Sola Ojo, Kaduna

The Senate has threatened to release documents incriminating suspended  Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal to the public if the Prof. Yemi Osinbajo-led panel  failed to conduct its investigation publicly.

Lawal and the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Amb. Ayo Oke are being investigated by a three-man panel headed by the vice president over various allegations.

Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Humanitarian Crisis in North East that indicted Lawal for allegedly awarding a N200 million contract for the clearing of grass at IDP camp in Yobe State to a company in which he has interest, said in as much as he supported the anti-graft policy of the Buhari administration, he was opposed to “secret trial” of Lawal.

He was reacting to a statement by the vice president’s spokesman that the panel’s proceedings will be closed sessions.

According to Sani, the outcome of a secret investigation  might not meet the expectations of Nigerians who wanted to see the fight against corruption of this administration waged across all political parties.   

“If Osinbajo committee has chosen a close session, the senate committee will conduct an open session and  provide the general public all the documents which we have and which we used to indict public officials who profited from unwholesome deals.  I have a fear that Osinbajo committee will end up as in-house or family affair as it is. So, I call on the Federal Government to make everything public for Nigerians to know,” he told Daily Sun in Kaduna, yesterday.

He stated that the senate upon resumption today  we ensure the 2017 budget is passed in the interest of the country. “We will pass the budget immediately we return,” he said.