House Of Representative Backs Adeosun’s Decision To Suspend Gwarzo

Minister Of Finance- Kemi-Adeosun

The house of representatives has backed Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, decision to suspend Mounir Gwarzo, director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Adeosun suspended Gwarzo in November, which was when SEC was about to conduct a forensic audit on Oando Plc.

She also put in place an administrative panel solely to look into the allegations of corruption leveled against him.

But the house had probed the timing of the suspension. At one of its hearing, Gwarzo claimed Adeosun suspended him for refusing to stop Oando’s audit.

However, the house of representative at the plenary yesterday ruled that the suspension is in order.

Tajudeen Yusuf, Kogi state, who chaired the committee said Adeosun followed the 1999 constitution and the civil service rules.

Part of the committee’s recommendations read: “That based on the constitutional provisions and other extant laws, as well as relevant provisions of the Public Service Rules cited and referred to, the suspension of Mr. Munir Gwarzo, the former director-general of the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Minister of Finance should stand.

“That based on the petitions by various stakeholders of Oando, the committee agreed to conduct investigation of Oando Plc.”

The committee also said based on the public service rules and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff manual, two suspended staff of SEC – Anastacia O. Braimoh and Naif Abdulsalam – should be recalled from suspension “and report to duty immediately.”

“That the case of Mrs. Anastasia Braimoh and Mr. Naif Abdulsalam should be referred to the management of SEC for disciplinary action in accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s staff manual,” it added.