FG Suspends SEC DG Mounir Gwarzo, Two Others Over Alleged Financial Impropriety
Lekan Paul
Posted On Nov 29, 2017
The federal government, on Wednesday, announced the suspension of embattled Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr. Mournir Gwarzo, over alleged financial impropriety.
Also suspended are two management staff of the Commission: Mr Abdulsalam Naif Habu (Head of Media Division) and Mrs Anastasia Omozele Braimoh (Head of Legal Department).
Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, stated that the suspension is to allow for unhindered investigation of several allegations of financial impropriety leveled against the suspend officials.
In the same vein, Mrs. Adesoun is to head an administrative panel of Inquiry to investigate and determine the culpability of the Director-General.
Recall that Mr. Gwarzo was appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan for a first term of five years on May 22, 2015. Prior to his appointment, he served as an Executive Commissioner of the commission.
On assuming office, Mr. Gwarzo allegedly paid himself a severance benefit of N104 million for the two and half years he served as as Executive Commissioner, and was also picking the flight bills of law makers to curry their favour in addition to awarding contracts to his companies.
Gwarzo was also accused of amassing wealth to himself by allowing Micro-Technologies Limited (RC No. 17305) and Tida International Limited (RC No. 26414) bid for contracts in the commission.
Investigations allegedly revealed that Mrs. Anastasia Omozele Braimoh, Head of SEC’s Legal Department, and her husband, Mr. Samuel Onimisi Braimoh, are the only directors of the company. The company has been a major supplier of office equipment to the commission.
