A non-governmental organisation, Good Governance Group, Network for Good Governance against Corruption has condemned the reinstatement of suspended Securities Exchange Commission DG Mounir Gwarzo by the National Industrial Court.
The National Industrial Court had last Friday May 30 ordered that Gwarzo be reinstated and all his entitlement paid.
According to a statement signed by the group’s Convener, Comrade Idris Kado, the allegations against the DG were too grave and indicts the anti-corruption war of President Buhari’s administration.
Mr. Gwarzo was suspended by former finance minister Kemi Adeosun to allow for an unhindered investigation after he was accused of collecting severance package worth N104.85 million which clearly violates the civil service rules.
The ICPC had filed five count charges accusing Gwarzo of receiving, between May and June 2015, the sum of N104,851,154.94 as severance benefit when he had yet to retire, resign or disengage from service; and also the sum of N10,983,488.88 as car grant” he was not entitled to.
In two of the five counts, ICPC accused Garuba, a former Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services of SEC, of conferring corrupt advantage on another public officer in the person of Gwarzo by approving the payments to the suspended SEC boss.
While acknowledging the judgement of the National Industrial Court which ruled that the former finance Minister lacked the power to sack the DG , the group insisted that the allegations of corruption were still disgraceful to the President Buhari’s administration which swore to rid the nation’s institutions from corruption.
“It is a slap on the Integrity of the President’s anti-corruption war that Mounir Gwarzo who clearly violated the Civil Service rules and paid himself monies illegally is reinstated into office. President Buhari must intervene and uphold the sack of Gwarzo” the statement read.
“…as lovers of Good Governance, it is our expectation that President Buhari who has the power to sack the SEC DG, fires him pending the outcome of the investigation…” the statement said.
