An FCT High Court in Maitama,
Thursday, fixed May 23 for the commencement of trial of former Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and three others, over
alleged N544 fraud.
The former SGF was arraigned on
Feb. 12 alongside Hamidu Lawal, a director in his company, Sulaiman Abubakar,
staff in the company and Apeh Monday, managing director Josmon Technologies
Limited
Also joined are two companies,
Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.
The case before Justice Jude
Okeke, was fixed for May 23, at the instance of the court with the consensus of
all the counsel in the matter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN )
reports that Lawal was not in court but other defendants in the matter were
present.
The defendants were dragged to
court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 10-count
charge bordering on conspiracy and unlawful award of contract to companies
Lawal has interest at the sum of N544 million.
Lawal was accused of benefiting
illegally from the approval of N544,119,925.36 for the removal of invasive
plant species and simplified irrigation.
The EFCC alleged that Babachir
Lawal being the SGF and Hamidu Lawal, director of Rholavision Engineering
Limited and Abubakar, staff about March 7, 2016 at Abuja conspired to commit
the offences.
EFCC said the defendants
fraudulently acquired a property, contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt
Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
It also alleged that Babachir
Lawal knowingly held indirectly a private interest in the consultancy contract
awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited for the removal of invasive plant
species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7 million and N6.4 million.
EFCC claimed that it was done
through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).
It further alleged that on March
4, and Aug. 22, 2016 contract for removing evasive grass worth N272.5 million
and N258.1 million respectively were awarded to Josmon technologies but
executed by Rholavision.
The offences are contrary to
Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
They all pleaded not guilty to
the allegations against them.
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