The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday re-arraigned a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and six others, over an alleged fraudulent N544m grass cutting contract.
In the 10-count charge, the EFCC had alleged that the defendants fraudulently converted cumulative proceeds of grass cutting contracts worth over N500m which Lawal, as then SGF, allegedly awarded to the companies in which he had interests.
Lawal and the other defendants pleaded not guilty when the amended 10 counts of fraud were read to them before Justice Charles Agbaza of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja.
The re-arraignment followed the death of the former trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke, on August 4, 2020.
Lawal, along with his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday, and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd – was initially arraigned before the late Justice Okeke on February 13, 2019.
The prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket, was to open his case on March 18, 2019, when he announced that he had amended the 10 counts, bordering on fraud, diversion of over N544m, and criminal conspiracy.
The development prompted the need for a re-arraignment of the defendants, who again pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial thereafter proceeded with the EFCC still calling its witnesses when Justice Okeke died.
Following the judge’s demise, the case was re-assigned to Justice Agbaza, before whom the case started afresh on Monday.
After the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday, the defence lawyers pleaded with the judge to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the bail already granted them by the former judge.
Thereafter, Justice Agbaza fixed January 20 to 22 for trial.
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