VP Osinbajo, former SGF Babachir
VP Osinbajo, former SGF Babachir
Grass-Cutting Scandal: EFCC Re-Arraigns Ex-SGF Babachir
Lawal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
re-arraigned a former Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal and three others before Justice
Jude Okeke of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court,
Maitama.
Lawal along with his younger brother, Hamidu David Lawal, one
Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday and two companies, Rholavision
Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd, were re-arraigned on
an amended 10-count charge bordering on fraud, diversion of funds
and criminal conspiracy to the tune of over N500 million.
They were earlier arraigned before Justice Okeke on February 13,
2019 and the prosecution was meant to open its case today, March
18, 2019.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Offem Uket told
the court that the charges against them had been amended, and that
they had to take a fresh plea.
However, citing Section 218 (2) of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015, Akin Olujimi, SAN, counsel for
Lawal, argued that “before the charge is taken, the prosecution
ought to have filed the amended charge to ensure that it was
properly endorsed”.
Other defence counsels aligned themselves with the submission of
Olujimi.
Justice Okeke, while ordering the prosecution to comply with the
section cited by Olujimi, however, ruled that in the interim, the
amended charges be read to the defendants.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Engineer Babachir David
Lawal, while being the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on
or about the 22nd August 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial
Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did
knowingly hold indirectly private interest in the contract awarded
to Josmon Technological Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering
Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified
irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.99 (Two Hundred and Fifty
Eight Million, One hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred
and Thirty Five Naira only) by the office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (OSGF) though the Presidential
Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other
Related Offences Act, 2000.”
They pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charges.
The defence team, thereafter, prayed the court to allow the
defendants to continue with the bail earlier granted them by the
court.
The request of the defence was granted by Justice Okeke, who
adjourned to April 11, 2019 for “commencement of trial”, noting
that, “the court is minded to grant an adjournment due to the
amendment of the charges.”
It will be recalled that the Court had earlier granted the
defendants bail in the sum of N50 million (Fifty Million Naira),
with one surety in like sum, who must be resident within the
jurisdiction of the court, and must be owner of a landed property
within the jurisdiction of the court, with evidence of three years
tax payment. The international passports of the defendants were
also ordered to be deposited with the court.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity