BREAKING: Court Gives Verdict on Ex-SGF Babachir Lawal's N544m Grass Cutting Contract Scandal
- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has lost to former SGF Babachir Lawal in court
- The anti-graft agency had dragged Lawal and five others to court over the N544 million contract fraud allegations
- However, a Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted the former SGF and five others, ruling that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case against them
FCT, Abuja - A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and five others from the N544 million contract fraud allegations brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Charles Agbaza delivered the verdict on Friday, November 18, The Punch reported.
Source: Twitter
Why court ruled in favour of former SGF Babachir Lawal and others
The court held that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a prima facie case against the Ex-SGF and the co-defendants, The Punch reported.
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Delivering a ruling on no case submission made by Lawal and others, Justice Agbaza held that no ingredient of any offence was made out by the 11 witnesses who testified for the EFCC.
The judge held that the EFCC did not establish that Lawal was either a member of the Presidential Initiative for the North-East that awarded the contract or a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board that vetted and gave approval to the disputed contract.
Besides, Justice Agbaza held that the EFCC also failed to link Lawal with the Bureau of Public Procurement that issued a certificate of no objection to the contract before it was awarded.
The Judge discharged and acquitted all the defendants in the 10 criminal charges against them for want of evidence to link them with the purported offences.
Babachir Lawal, alongside his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal; Suleiman Abubakar; Apeh Monday and two companies, Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited, were prosecuted by the EFCC before Justice Agbaza.
They faced 10 charges bordering on fraud, relating to the removal of evasive plant species to the tune of N544m, for which they pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC had, in November 2020, re-arraigned Lawal before Justice Agbaza.
Nigerians react to former SGF Lawal's acquittal
Goodex Paschal said:
"When God is to judge his own, even the court judges Will be convicted."
Seyi Oduleye said:
"Even before the start of the case the man has been freed,this is just official declaration. Padi padi government noni.."
Ab Jelisqo said:
"Thank GOD the Court did the right justice this time around."
Abraham Ngbede Ogbole said:
"The tenure is close to an end so we won't be surprise by this kind of black market judgement from Court on corruption cases."
Chinaza Ugbo said:
"The EFCC should appeal the judgement ASAP."
Why we met IBB, Abdulsalami over APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, Babachir Lawal reveals
In another report, former SGF Lawal and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara consulted with key national and political leaders on their rejection of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling APC.
The duo, accompanied by a former Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Simon Achuba, met separately with former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida in his Hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State, and former Head of State General Abdusalami Abubakar.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Babachir spoke on why thy visited the elder statesmen.
Source: Legit.ng
