NNPC saga: What Buhari, EFCC must do to Baru now – CSJ

The Center for Social Justice, CSJ, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately suspend the GMD of NNPC Dr. Maikanti Baru.
The group also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct an investigation on the various allegations leveled against the NNPC boss without further delay.

In a statement by CSJ lead Director, Eze Onyekpere, the group said the allegations against Baru were weighty and should not be treated with kids’ gloves.
According to Onyekpere, “These allegations are weighty and if they are true, constitute serious crimes and acts of economic sabotage against the Nigerian people and the economy.
“It would not be difficult to establish if NNPC has held board meetings since Dr Maikanti Baru’s tenure and if meetings have been so held, the agenda of such meetings, finding out the person(s) who took decisions on appointments that were contrary to laid down procedures would also not be difficult to establish.
“Coming at a time the administration is prosecuting a war against corruption and seeking to enforce due process in the management of national resources, it is imperative that these allegations are thoroughly investigated.

“If a prima facie case is established, the offender(s) should be prosecuted and the full weight of the law brought to bear on them.
“Therefore, President Muhammadu Buhari should rise to the occasion, in the national interest and ensure that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission moves expeditiously to investigate these weighty allegations; consider suspending the alleged official(s) from office to avoid tampering with evidence and sabotaging investigations.
“In the past, many Nigerians have alleged that the federal administration remains silent when serious allegations are made against its key officials.
“CSJ recalls the grass cutting scandal involving the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the benumbing silence following the submission of the report of the Committee headed by the Vice President to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We hope that law enforcement and investigation agencies would live up to the demands of their statutory and constitutional mandates,” he maintained.