The trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, commences afresh with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling its first witness.
The SGF and six others are accused of N544m grass-cutting contract fraud.
The first witness of the EFCC was a relationship manager in the Sales Department of the Wuse Zone 4, Abuja branch of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mohammed Babasule who tendered the statement of account and account opening documents of one of the companies standing trial along with Lawal and the other defendants on Wednesday.
The trial began afresh before Charles Agbaza, the judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja, who recently took charge of the case following the demise of the former trial judge, Jude Okeke.
EFCC had presented some witnesses and tendered documentary exhibits before Justice Okeke died on August 4, 2020.
The defendants comprising, Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Monday Apeh, and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd – were then re-arraigned before Justice Agbaza on November 30, 2020.
The prosecution accused them of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and diversion of over N544m belonging to the Federal Government, offences which the anti-graft agency said the defendants committed during Lawal’s time as the SGF.
They were accused of fraudulently converting the N544million proceeds of the grass-cutting contracts which Lawal, as then SGF, allegedly awarded to the companies in which he had interests.
Lawal, the first SGF appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, was removed from office because of the scandal in 2017.
He and other defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
First prosecution witness testifies
On Wednesday, the first prosecution witness, Mr Babasule, told the new judge, Justice Agbaza, that he was in 2018 assigned the responsibility of managing the FCMB account of Josmon Technologies Ltd (one of the defendants).
The witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket, tendered some documents relating to the company’s account in evidence.
Among the documents was the company’s statement of account, and account opening documents which included photocopies of the passport of Monday Apeh (one of the defendants), and an electricity bill issued by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). (PREMIUM TIMES)
