President Buhari Appoints New SGF and DG of NIA in Acting Capacities

The positions of the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the
Director General Nigerian Intelligence Agency has been replaced by President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Vanguard making the rounds online, President Muhammadu Buhari has
selected some candidates to replace the suspended Secretary to the Government of
the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal and the Director General Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke.

As for NIA, the suspended DG will soon be 60 and his tenure will end in November.
Technically, he is expected to proceed on pre-retirement leave from August.
Meanwhile, Dr. Habibat Lawal from Bauchi State and Amb. Arab Yadam from Plateau State have assumed the positions of the
acting Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the acting Director General,
Nigeria Intelligence Agency, respectively in accordance with President Buhari’s directive.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in his directive through his media aide, Femi
Adisina directed Dr. Habibat Lawal, who is the most senior Permanent Secretary at the SGF office takes over in an acting capacity.

Also, Amb. Arab Yadam is the most senior Permanent Secretary at the NIA is now the acting DG, in accordance to Buhari’s directive
Yadam is said to be the senior Deputy DG among Oke’s two deputies.

Also, it was learnt that Dr. Habibat Lawal (Bauchi State), who is the most senior Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, has stepped in as the Acting SGF.

The suspension of the two officials was to enable the Federal Government investigate alleged infractions against them before a
formal acceptance of their resignation.

Babachir will be probed over alleged N200million contract awarded to a company, Global Vision Limited, allegedly linked with him by the Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE) for the clearing of “invasive plant species” (weeds) in Yobe
State.

Oke is being investigated for alleged $43.4million operations cash, which was found by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) at apartment 7B in Osborne Towers, Ikoyi.