A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has discharged and acquitted the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and five others accused of complicity in an alleged N544million contract fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had, in a 10-count charge, accused Lawal and the other five of defrauding the Federal Government to the tune of N544m in relation the contract for the removal of evasive plant species awarded by the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).
Justice Charles Agbaza, in a ruling on Friday, upheld the no-case submissions made by the defendants and held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against Lawal and others to warrant their being called upon to enter defence.
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Justice Agbaza added that the prosecution failed, through its 11 witnesses to establish ingredients of any of the offences charged.
The judge held that the prosecution did not establish that Lawal was either a member of PINE that awarded the contract or a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board that vetted and gave approval to the disputed contract.
He found that the EFCC also failed to link Lawal with Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) that issued a certificate of no objection to the contract before it was awarded.
The judge then discharged and acquitted the defendants on all the 10 counts for want of evidence to link them with the offences charged.
Charged with Lawal are Hamidu Lawal (his younger brother), Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.