The immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and six others were on Monday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10 count charge bordering on alleged fraudulent application of N544m for grass-cutting contract.
Recall that this is the second time that the immediate past SGF, Lawal and other defendants would be arraigned in this case. In February last year, they were similarly charged before the late Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Maitama, Abuja.
It would be recalled that Lawal, along with his younger brother, one Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two corporate organizations – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The EFCC had not exhausted its roll of witnesses, when the trial judge, Jutsice Okeke tragically died on August 4, 2020.
Following the trial judge’s unfortunate death, the case was re-assigned to Justice Charles Agbaza of the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court. Based on this development, the trial is expected to commence on a fresh note.
It would be recalled that the anti-graft agency had alleged, in its stated 10 count charges, that the defendants fraudulently, dubiously and inappropriately converted cumulative proceeds of grass-cutting contracts worth over N500m which Lawal, as the then SGF, allegedly awarded to companies in which he had interests.
