President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to begin the probe of top officials of his government who have been accused of corruption.
The President’s directive to Malami was made known to the press on Sunday via a statement.
The statement was issued by Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
The statement said the attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a number of reports in the media, in which various accusations of corruption have been levelled against some top officials in the administration.
It added: “In that regard, President Buhari has instructed the Attorney General of the Federation to investigate the involvement of any top government officials accused of any wrong-doing. If any of them are liable they will not escape prosecution.”
Of recent, some top officials of the Buhari government have been accused of corrupt practices.
The latest two top government officials facing accusations of corruption are the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
While a report by the Department of State Services indicted Magu, Lawal was found by the Senate to have interest in a company that got a contract of N200 million for grass clearing in Yobe State under the Presidential Initiative on the North East.
Worse still the company was said not to have executed any contract of that nature.
Before now, the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, had been accused of using his influence to get favors for some individuals and companies.
A media report on Sunday said Manu’s attempt to see Buhari after the allegations contained in the DSS’s report was rebuffed by the President.
All those accused have denied involvement.
