EFCC Operatives
Grass-Cutting
EFCC Operatives
Grass-Cutting Scandal: EFCC Arraigns Ex-SGF Babachir,
Others over N1.1bn
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February
12, 2019 arraigned Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation, SGF, before Justice Jude Okeke of a
Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama on a 10-count
charge bordering on fraud, diversion of funds and criminal
conspiracy to the tune of N1.1 billion.
Lawal was arraigned along with his younger brother, Hamidu David
Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday and two companies,
Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Hamidu David Lawal, being a
Director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd, Suleiman Abubakar, being a
staff of Rholavision Engineering Ltd, Apeh Monday John, being the
Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Ltd and Rholavision
Engineering Ltd on or about the 4th of March, 2016 at Abuja in the
Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital
Territory did abet the holding indirectly of a private interest by
Engineer Babachir David Lawal in the award of contract to Josmon
Technologies Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and
simplified irrigation by the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation through the Presidential Initiative
for North West, PINE to the tune of N272,524,356.02 (Two Hundred
and Seventy Two Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Four Thousand,
Three Hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Two Kobo only) which Rholavision
Engineering Ltd executed and thereby committed an offence contrary
to section 26 (1)(c) of the Independent Corrupt Practices And Other
Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under section 12 of the
same Act.”
They all pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Prosecuting counsel, M.S. Abubakar, thereafter, asked for the
“shortest date” for commencement of trial.
Defence counsel, Akin Olujimi, SAN, while arguing his bail
application, told the court that “in anticipation of arraignment,
the defence filed application dated February 7, 2019 seeking the
order of the court to grant bail on liberal terms”.
Olujimi said: “He never jumped bail since April 13, 2018 when he
was released by the EFCC on administrative bail, and has been
reporting to the EFCC based on the conditions given to him.
“He never breached his bail conditions, even when he was given
his international passport to travel for medical check-up.
“The defendant will not run away and has no way of jeopardising
investigation since it has been concluded.
“I therefore, urge your lordship to grant him bail on
self-recognizance or on liberal terms.”
Sunday Ameh, SAN, counsel for the second defendant, while citing
Section 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, also prayed the Court
to grant his client bail on liberal terms pending the determination
of the trial.
Counsel for the third and fourth defendants, Napoleon Idenala
and Ocholi Okutepa, while urging the court to exercise its
discretion, prayed that their clients be granted bail on liberal
terms.
Responding, Abubakar urged Justice Okeke to “refuse the bail
applications and order that the matter proceed without delay in the
spirit of Section 19(2)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and
Section 397 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
2015”.
After listening to the arguments, Justice Okeke, adjourned the
matter to Wednesday, February 13, 2019 for “ruling on bail
application”, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the
custody of the EFCC.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity