The battle for the headship of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) got fiercer Monday morning as the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, SEC Branch, locked up offices of the headquarters of the Commission over attempts by suspended DG Mounir Gwarzo to resume duties.
As early as 7am, the protesting workers had shut all entry points into SEC headquarters to prevent vested interests from reinstating Gwarzo who had been indicted for abuse of office and corruption by an Administrative Panel of Inquiry set up by the Federal Ministry of Finance, headed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.
Gwarzo was also indicted by a House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee which investigated his suspension by the former Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun.
“We are SEC staff members of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, SEC branch. We are a labour union that press home demands and concern with the welfare of members,” said Nelson Oleghe, Chairman, Association of Senior Staff Union, SEC Branch.
“The suspended DG of SEC has been on suspension for almost two years following allegations of abuse of office levelled against him. the recommendations of the Special Investigation Panel that indicted him by the former Honorable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun.
“The suspended DG was charged to court by ICPC. The case was poorly handled by the judge and ICPC.
“In all of the court cases, the issues of fraud was not mentioned and areas pointed out by the SIP was not touched by the judges.”
Oleghe said the union learnt from a reliable source that the suspended DG after being “pronounced free by the court$” he wants to stage a come-back and resume duties.