ASCSN Insist on probing its former Secretary Alade Bashir Lawal for alleged abuse of Office.

From: Abdulkadir Ahmad 

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has call on the general public to disregards the article published by one Joshua Apebo debunking the allegations of fraudulent activities carried by its former Secretary Alade Bashir Lawal.

The leadership of the Association wishes the general public, and especially the anti-graft agencies, to totally discountenance the article as it was not authorised and does not represent the view of the Association.

They call of the general public to continue to give maximum support to the nation Anti-graft Agencies and the Nigerian Police Maximum support during investigation particularly in the ongoing saga of an alleged misappropriation of 

by the former Secretary of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN).

The Statements reads; 

RE. ASCSN DEBUNKS CHARGES OF FRAUD IN THE ASSOCIATION

The attention of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has been drawn to a 26th July, 2024 article titled "ASCSN Debunks Charges of Fraud in the Association" and published by one Joshua Apebo.

The leadership of the Association wishes the general public, and especially the anti-graft agencies, to totally discountenance the article as it was not authorised and does not represent the view of the Association.

ASCSN condemns Apebo's attempt to interfere with and undermine investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Currupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police into colossal plunder of the finances and other resources of ASCSN by former Secretary General Alade Bashir Lawal.

We know that Apebo's discomfort is because he too was arrested and released on bail pending investigations for being party to the financial crimes against ASCSN. His disputation with the allegation that Lawal stole over $1 billion dollars particularly raises questions. What exactly is his contention? That Lawal didn't embezzle? Or that the alleged figure is incorrect?

We challenge Alade Lawal to produce his pay slips throughout his years of employment before, during and after his time with ASCSN, and juxtapose the total sum with the costs of numerous ridiculously expensive properties he owns in Dubai, Lagos and around Nigeria as well as the superfluous amounts of ASCSN funds he transferred and invested in his wife Mariam's restaurant and cosmetics store, his daughter Amina's businesses, and his son Ladi's lavish lifestyle. How much has he earned to afford so much?

The claim that the EFCC and the ICPC have cleared Lawal of all allegations against him is utterly spurious. We challenge him to produce a certified true copy of that clearance.

We are bemused by Apebo's attempt to drag the good name of the National President of ASCSN, Comrade Innocent Bola-Audu, into the discourse on Lawal's criminality. It is curious that he mentioned how the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) arrested and detained Comrade Bola-Audu for alleged case of human trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable persons, but conveniently forgot to add that the High Court promptly discharged and acquitted the ASCSN National President of all the charges because he never committed the crimes.

Bola-Audu boldly stayed put in Nigeria and defended himself in court. Can Alade Bashir Lawal dare to return from his hiding place in Dubai to face prosecution in Nigeria?

We know that Apebo's grouses with Comrade Bola-Audu and ASCSN stem from two sources: (1) Bola-Audu's recent reinstatement as National President of ASCSN by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN); and (2) the decision of ASCSN's Central Working Committee (CWC) at its emergency meeting held earlier on the same Friday 26th July, 2024, which cancelled his (Apebo's) purported appointment as Secretary General in 2023, in deference to a 9th July, 2024 judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) which nullified and voided the illegal CWC and National Executive Council (NEC) meetings at which the appointment and its ratification were made. Apebo should please leave ASCSN and Bola-Audu alone and go lick his wounds quietly.

The Association commends President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining the anti-corruption element of his administration. We also applaud the Inspector General of Police for ensuring that nobody scuttles or even interferes with the investigations. Surely those investigations are not about the institution ASCSN, but about Lawal as an individual. They are all about stopping corruption in ASCSN and Nigeria.