Alleged N544m Fraud: Fresh Headache For Babachir Lawal As EFCC Set To Appeal Acquittal

Alleged N544m Fraud: Fresh Headache For Babachir Lawal As EFCC Set To Appeal Acquittal

Following the dismissal of a 10-count corruption charge brought against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicated plans to appeal the ruling of Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.

Lawal and five others were discharged and acquitted of the N544 million Contract Fraud charge brought against them by the EFCC on Friday, with the court ruling that the anti-graft agency failed to establish a case against the former SGF and the co-defendants.

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“But dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC has given indication that it will obtain a copy of the judgment for urgent review and challenge its validity at the appellate court,” EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren said in a statement on Friday.

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In ruling on the defendants’ no case submission, Justice Agbaza held that the Commission, which presented 11 witnesses during the trial, failed to establish the ingredients of the alleged offence.

The commission failed to establish that Babachir Lawal was either a member of the Presidential Initiative for North East PINE that awarded the contract or a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board that vetted and approved the disputed contract, according to the court.

Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, and Apeh John Monday were charged with fraud, diversion of funds, and criminal conspiracy in the amount of N544 million, along with two companies, Rholavision Engineering and Josmon Technologies.

The EFCC re-arraigned former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, before Justice Agbaza on Monday, November 30, 2020.

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