The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) on Monday, November 30, re-arraigned a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and five others in a Federal Capital Territory High Court, over an alleged fraudulent N544 million grass-cutting contract.

The other defendants are Hamidu Lawal (his younger brother), Sulaiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two companies; Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before the late trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT high court, Maitama on February 13, 2019 and were granted bail.

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Sequel to this, the defence counsel prayed the court to allow them to continue on the bail granted to them by the late Judge, noting that the defendants have faithfully adhered to their bail terms.

The case was to be opened on March 18, 2019, but the prosecutor announced that changes had been made to the 10-count charge, thereby stalling the trial.

The defendants were docked on amended 10-count charge, bordering on diversion of funds, criminal conspiracy and official corruption to the tune of N544 million.

The EFCC was still calling its witnesses when it announced that the former trial judge died on August 4, 2020, from a brief illness at the National Hospital in Abuja.

The case was then transferred to Justice Charles Agbaza of the Jabi Division of the FCT High Court, who fixed Monday for the re-arraignment.

At their re-arraignment on Monday, the defendants again pleaded not guilty to the charges.

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Justice Agbaza fixed January 20, 2021, to restart the trial afresh.

The EFCC alleged that Babachir Lawal, while he was the SGF, converted and awarded cumulative proceeds of grass cutting contracts worth N544 million to companies he had interests in.

Some of the counts in the charge marked CR/158/19 are: “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal, while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 22nd August 2016 at Abuja, in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did knowingly hold indirectly private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technological Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.99 (Two Hundred and Fifty-eight Million, One hundred and Thirty-two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty-five Naira, Ninety-nine kobo) only, by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) though the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

“That you Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd, on or about the 7th of March, 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7, 009,515.96 (Seven Million, Nine Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifteen Naira and Ninety Six Kobo only) by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.

“That you Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 22nd August, 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Thirty Five Naira only) by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.”