Court docket acquits ex-SGF Babachir of alleged N544 million contract fraud offences

A Excessive Court docket within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has discharged and acquitted Babachir Lawal, a former secretary to the federal government of the federation, and 5 others of N544 million contract fraud offenses.

Justice Charles Agbaza discharged and acquitted them on Friday of the 10-count prison fees proffered in opposition to them by the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC).

He held that the EFCC failed to determine a case in opposition to the defendants; consequently, he acquitted them of the fees.

Backstory: on February 12, 2019, the EFCC arraigned the Ex SGF earlier than Justice Jude Okeke on a 10-count cost bordering on fraud, diversion of funds, and prison conspiracy to the tune of N1.1 billion.

Lawal was arraigned alongside his youthful brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday, and two firms, Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Applied sciences Ltd.

• One of many counts reads: “That you just, Hamidu David Lawal, being a Director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd, Suleiman Abubakar, being a employees of Rholavision Engineering Ltd, Apeh Monday John, being the Managing Director of Josmon Applied sciences Ltd and Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or in regards to the 4th of March, 2016 at Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the Excessive Court docket of the Federal Capital Territory did abet the holding not directly of a personal curiosity by Engineer Babachir David Lawal within the award of contract to Josmon Applied sciences Ltd for the removing  of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation by the Workplace of the Secretary to the Authorities of the Federation via the Presidential Initiative for North West, PINE to the tune of N272,524,356.02 (Two Hundred and Seventy Two Million, 5 Hundred and Twenty 4 Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Six Naira, Two Kobo solely) which Rholavision Engineering  Ltd executed and thereby dedicated an offence opposite to part 26 (1)(c) of the Impartial Corrupt Practices And Different Associated Offences Act 2000 and punishable beneath part 12 of the identical Act.”

Upon arraignment, All of them pleaded “not responsible” to the fees in opposition to them.

Following the demise of Justice Okeke, the trial needed to begin afresh, and on November 30, 2020, they have been re-arraigned earlier than Justice Agbaza.

They have been re-arraigned on an amended 10-count cost, bordering on diversion of funds, prison conspiracy, and official corruption to the tune of N544 million.

The EFCC had offered 11 witnesses to testify in opposition to the defendants earlier than the courtroom.

Choose’s ruling: Delivering judgment, the decide held that the EFCC failed to determine a prima facie case in opposition to the defendants.

Ruling on the no-case submission by the ex-SGF, the courtroom held that no elements of any offense have been made out by witnesses the EFCC offered.

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