Professor Sagay Slams Sani Over Deodorant Comment

He accused the Senator of fighting his own political “battles” which influences his views.

Sani had dismissed as “false” President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims on a Senate report indicting the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, of corruption.

Speaking at the Senate on Tuesday after Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read Buhari’s letter absolving Lawal of fraud, the Senator suggested the President’s defense of the SGF smacked of double standards.

Buhari had reacted to the Senate’s demand for Lawal’s sack and prosecution, having accused him of corruption in the handling of a grass cutting contract awarded by the Presidential Initiative on Northeast (PINE).

The President in his letter said he could not act as demanded by the Senate because the report of the Senate Ad hoc committee was signed by three of nine members.

He also said the SGF was not given fair hearing.

Sani, who chaired the ad hoc committee and presented the interim report last December, said seven members, not three as claimed by the President, signed the report.

He also said Lawal was invited to appear before the committee, adding the SGF’s secretary received and acknowledged the invitation.

Sani said advert was placed in three newspapers for Lawal and other parties involved in the matter to appear before the Senate committee.

“Corruption in the judiciary and others is treated with insecticide while corruption in the government is treated with deodorant,” Sani said.

But, Sagay said while he does not have much facts regarding the allegations against the SGF, he should be given a fair hearing by the Senate before being condemned.

“With regards to the SGF, I don’t really know much about that. My own view is that they should give him a hearing and if at the end of it, they consider that he’s liable, then they should come to the conclusion and condemn him if they want. But they should give him a hearing. That’s all,” Sagay said