Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has reacted to the controversy which trailed his exit from the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Citing what he described as the party’s abandonment of internal democracy, Lawal had announced his resignation on Monday.

In a statement posted on his verified social media account, the former SGF accused the ADC of manipulating its presidential and other primaries to favour former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his allies.

He alleged that legitimate candidates were sidelined and that some election outcomes had been predetermined.

The former SGF said he could no longer remain in a party that, in his view, had become a vehicle for securing Atiku’s emergence as president in 2027.

However, the post which was filled with expletives generated backlash.

While Atiku refrained from joining words with the former SGF, many of his supporters did.

In yet another social media post, Lawal said he was not move by the criticism from Atiku’s supporters.

But he attempted to clear the air on the controversy which led to his removal from office, saying the narrative that he was indicted for corruption is false.

“ALL these insults are predicated on only two planks as follows but every single one of them avoided my arguments. The first is that I am a “grass cutter” disgraced out of office on account of the scandal.

“I find this amusing because it was clearly a setup to get me out of office on account of my very close relationship with Gen Muhammadu Buhari who unbeknownst to them had been my mentor since 1971 and who had personally requested me to join his campaign team that he was then assembling in 2002.

“This close relationship annoyed so many people who were beginning to fear Buhari must be grooming me for something higher, but which he was not. Some others also felt that Buhari had no business appointing me as SGF because I was from the small tribe of Kilba and a Christian for that matter.

“But Buhari would not listen to the high powered delegation they sent to him in this regard. So they had to get me out of the seat of the very powerful SGF at all costs. The contract to get me out was awarded to some Northern Senators who proceeded to subcontract the assignment to its very well known legislative hatchet men who recruited some sympathizers and collaborators in the executive branch of government and in the press.

“I will save them the shame by not naming them here because the main contractor himself later apologized to me in the presence of three of our common friends and as a good Christian that I strive to be, I forgave him right there at the meeting and it has remained so ever since.”

Although not mentioning the name of ex-Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Lawal alleged that the then Vice-President orchestrated his removal.

“The progression of this case was that the Senate submitted an interim report to the President urging him to sack me but which the president dismissed on the advice of the Attorney General as lacking in substance and fair hearing. But the matter would not die because the then Vice President for reasons best known to him decided to pursue the matter with the president incessantly pestering him until the president gave in and permitted him and two others to investigate the matter. It was this report that without a shred of evidence recommended my removal.”

“This matter was eventually handed over to the EFCC for proper investigation and prosecution. I insisted on this because it was now clear to me that only the courts can clear me.

“During the trial, EFCC called 14 witnesses. Interestingly all of them testified to my innocence as if they were my own witnesses. Not one of them implicated me either in the contract award process or its execution. In the end I was discharged and acquitted along with the other accused on a “no-case submission” by our Lawyers.

“The president allowed me read the VP’s report and the conclusion, which to paraphrase the report said “the SGF did not commit any criminal offense but a company he once owned executed a contract in an agency under him thus abusing his oath of office”. The contract was for consultancy services at the cost of N7.2m which was won by my former company Rholavision Engineering Limited after a competitive bidding process of which I wasn’t even aware.

“The main contract was won by Josmon Technologies Limited a company whose owners I never met in my life until we met in the court. I later found out that the contract had two phases with a total value of about 540 million naira. Both the main contract and the consultancy services were fully executed and payments effected only after the Auditor-General’s Office and the Internal Auditors had certified that the contracts were fully executed according to specifications.

“So no money was lost by the government, no bribe was given and no money was laundered. 7.2 million Naira; that is it. In these days when billions of dollars get taken out of government coffers in a single deal, is it not a wonder that an SGF would lose his position and scandalized over a pittance 7.2m Naira and someone is celebrating it?”

Lawal defended his criticism of Atiku, saying, “No, it is my right to interrogate the character and competence of someone who seeks to be my President. He is free to step down his ambition if he does not want to be so queried. Indeed I would urge ADC to replace this man with a more qualified candidate if they want to have any hope of winning the presidential election before INEC time table runs out on them.

“I mean well for my country. But as I had written in a WhatsApp message to Atiku Abubakar himself on 19th December, 2025 I will not lie low and allow his goons to lynch me be it physically or on the social media.” (Weekend Trust, excluding headline)

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