N544m Fraud: SGF’s Office Frustrating Lawal’s Trial – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel in the ongoing trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, yesterday, expressed frustration over the attitude of witnesses from the Office of the SGF.
The EFCC arraigned Lawal and three others at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Jabi, on a 10-count charge of conspiracy and fraud.
The commission accused the defendants of alleged involvement in the N544.1million grass-cutting scandal.
The other defendants are Lawal’s brother, Hamidu, who is a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, a staff of the company, Sulaiman Abubakar and the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Limited, Apeh John Monday.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The EFCC counsel, Ofem Uket, expressed his frustration at the witnesses’ attitude after leading a Principal Procurement Officer in the OSGF, Aminu Muhammed, in evidence.
The witness testified as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4) in the case.
According to him, 80 per cent of the witnesses called by the EFCC so far were from the OSGF.
“Over 80 per cent of the witnesses came from the OSGF,” Uket stated.
He told the court that the case was adjourned till February 19 at the instance of the witness.