The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is to appeal the ruling of Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital. Territory High Court Abuja, which today dismissed the 10-count charge of corruption brought against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar and Apeh John Monday are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside two companies, Rholavision Engineering (fifth defendant) and Josmon Technologies (sixth defendant) on an amended 10-count charge, bordering on fraud, diversion of funds and criminal conspiracy to the tune of over N544million.
According to Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the ruling on the no-case submission made by the defendants today, Justice Agbaza held that the Commission which presented 11 witnesses in the course of the trial, failed to establish the ingredients of the alleged offence. He held that the Commission did not 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 gave approval to the disputed contract.
But dissatisfied with the ruling, the EFCC has indicated that it will obtain a copy of the judgment for urgent review and challenge its validity at the appellate court.
It will be recalled that a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, discharged and acquitted a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal and five others from the N544M Contract Fraud offences brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Court on Friday held that the anti-graft agency failed woefully to establish a prima facie case against the ex-SGF and the co-defendants.