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Tag: Babachir Lawal

  • Ex-SGF Lawal, brother, others get N50m bail

    FORMER Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, his brother Hamidu Lawal and two others got bail at N50 million each yesterday before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja

    The ex-SGF, his brother, Suleiman Abubakar and Apeh Monday, including two firms – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd – were arraigned before Justice Jude Okeke on Tuesday on a 10-count charge of fraud.

    In a ruling yesterday, Justice Okeke granted them bail for N50 million, with one surety each in like sum.

    The judge said the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must be a holder of landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court, with evidence of tax payments for the past three years.

    Justice Okeke added that the surety must deposit his international passports with the court.

    The judge, in granting them bail, noted: “The prosecution did not provide sufficient evidence in line with Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 not to grant bail.

    “The court can grant bail except in situations where the defendants are likely to jump bail, interfere with investigation or attempt to conceal evidence.

    “The ACJA 2015 has made peculiar and extensive provisions regarding bail, and the court is guided by the provision, which states that a defendant shall be entitled to bail.

    “The prosecution has the right to object to the bail, but the bail application succeeds.”

    He ordered the defendants to remain in EFCC custody pending the fulfilment of their bail conditions.

    The judge adjourned to March 18, this year, for the beginning of trial.

    The alleged fraud committed by the defendants was said to be in relation to contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) for the removal of grasses in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

  • Breaking: Court grants former SGF Lawal, two others N50m bail

    The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and three others, who were charged with N544 million fraud were on Wednesday granted a N50 million bail each.

    Justice Jude Okeke of an FCT High Court Maitama, who gave the ruling, said the prosecution could not provide any proof to make the court not to grant bail.

    “The evidential burden is more on the prosecution to prove that the defendants are not entitled to enjoy section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federation Republic of Nigeria as amended.

    “Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the prosecution cited said bail shall be granted except in some circumstances which the prosecution could not establish,’’ he held.

    Okeke admitted them to bail in the sum of N50 million and a surety in like sum each.

    He insisted that the surety must be resident in Abuja and must provide residential address to the court.

    In addition to that, the judge ordered that the surety must own a landed property with the land documents submitted to the court.

    Okeke also ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports and traveling documents to the Registrar of the court.

    The former SGF was arraigned alongside Hamidu Lawal, a director in his company, Sulaiman Abubakar, staff in the company and Apeh Monday.

    Also joined were two companies, Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dragged them to court 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.

    Read Also: Alleged N544m fraud: Court remands ex-SGF Lawal, others

    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 charges.

    The case has been adjourned till March 18 for commencement of trail.

  • Alleged N544m fraud: Court remands ex-SGF Lawal, others

    A HIGH Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja yesterday ordered that former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and three others be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending its ruling on his bail application today.

    The court gave the order after Lawal, his brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Sulaiman Abubakar and Apeh John Monday and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Limited – were arraigned on a 10-count charge brought against them by the EFCC, and in which they were accused of involvement in N272 million contract fraud.

    The alleged fraud was said to be in relation to contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) for the removal of grasses in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, which the ex-SGF allegedly diverted to the companies in which he has interest.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the prosecuting lawyer, M.S. Abubakar, asked for the “shortest date” for the beginning of trial.

    At that point, lawyer to Lawal, Akin Olujinmi (SAN),  informed the court about his client’s pending bail application.

    He said: “In anticipation of arraignment, the defence filed application dated February 7, 2019, seeking the order of the court to grant bail on liberal terms

    “He never jumped bail since April 13, 2018, when he was released by the EFCC on administrative bail, and has been reporting to the EFCC based on the conditions given to him.

    “He never breached his bail conditions, even when he was given his international passport to travel for medical check-up.

    “The defendant will not run away and has no way of jeopardising investigation since it has been concluded.

    “I, therefore, urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognisance or on liberal terms,” Olujinmi said.

    Lawyer to the second defendant, Sunday Ameh (SAN), also prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, pending the determination of the case.

    Napoleon Idenala and Ocholi Okutepa, who represented  the third and fourth defendants, equally urged the court to exercise its discretion in their clients’ favour and grant them bail on liberal terms.

    In his response, Abubakar urged Justice Jude Okeke to refuse the bail applications and order that the matter proceed without delay in the spirit of Section 19(2)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and Section 397 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Okeke fixed ruling for today and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s  custody.

     

  • Court remands ex-SGF, Lawal, brother, others in EFCC custody

    *Arraigned on 10-count charge of fraud

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja ordered, on Tuesday, that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal and three others be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending its ruling on his bail application on Wednesday.

    The court gave the order after Lawal, his brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Sulaiman Abubakar and Apeh John Monday and two companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Limited – were arraigned on a 10-count charge brought against him by the EFCC, and in which they accused of involvement in N272 million contract fraud.

    The alleged fraud was said to be in relation to contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) for the removal of grasses in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, which the ex-SGF allegedly diverted to the companies in which he has interest.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them, following which the prosecuting lawyer, M.S. Abubakar asked for the “shortest date” for the commencement of trial.

    At that point, lawyer to Lawal, Akin Olujinmi (SAN) informed the court about his client’s pending bail application.

    He said: “in anticipation of arraignment, the defence filed application dated February 7, 2019 seeking the order of the court to grant bail on liberal terms

    “He never jumped bail since April 13, 2018, when he was released by the EFCC on administrative bail and has been reporting to the EFCC based on the conditions given to him.

    “He never breached his bail conditions, even when he was given his international passport to travel for medical check-up.

    “The defendant will not run away and has no way of jeopardising investigation since it has been concluded.

    “I, therefore, urge your lordship to grant him bail on self-recognizance or on liberal terms,” Olujinmi said.

    Lawyer to the second defendant, Sunday Ameh (SAN) also prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, pending the determination of the case.

    Napoleon Idenala and Ocholi Okutepa, who represented the third and fourth defendants, equally urged the court to exercise its discretion in their clients’ favour and grant them bail on liberal terms.

    In his response, Abubakar urged the judge, Justice Jude Okeke to refuse the bail applications and order that the matter proceeds without delay in the spirit of Section 19(2)(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act 2004 and Section 397 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Okeke fixed ruling for today (February 13) and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

  • Court remands ex-SGF in EFCC custody

    *Arraigned on 10-count charge of fraud

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama, Abuja has ordered that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pending its ruling on his bail application on Wednesday.

    Read Also:  Supreme Court to rule on other three appeals

    The court gave the order after Lawal was arraigned on a 10-count charge of fraud brought against him by the EFCC.

    The ex-SGF pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him this morning during his arraignment before Justice Jude Okeke.

    Details shortly…

  • Alleged N544.1m contracts: EFCC detains ex-SGF Babachir

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal was yesterday detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Lawal will be arraigned today.

    The commission had filed a 10-count charge against the former SGF and five others.

    Others are: Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh John Monday; Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    All the suspects will face trial in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for alleged N544, 119, 925.36 for the removal of Invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.

    But ahead of the arraignment, the former SGF was taken into custody yesterday day.

    A source said: “We have detained the former SGF and some suspects in preparation of their arraignment in court on Tuesday.

    Read also: APC to U.S. envoy: Buhari will win without rigging

    “They have been served charges and their trial will commence. The EFCC team is ready for the prosecution of the suspects with its witnesses ready accordingly.”

    On the charge sheet dated January 30, and filed by Offem Uket, M. S. Abubakar and Abba Muhammed, the EFCC accused Lawal of holding “indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Ltd by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).

    The contracts are:

    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

    Consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N6,453,318.38.

    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 N272,524,356.02.

    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.

    The charges read in part:  “That you, Engr, Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a Director of Rholavision, Hamidu David Lawal being a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar being a staff of Rholavision Engineering Limited 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 conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c ) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh Monday John being the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Ltd and Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about February, 2016 at Abuja did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of a private interest in contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “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 4th of March, 2016 at Abuja 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 N272,524,356.02 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 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 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.”

  • FG files charges against Babachir Lawal, Oke, wife, others

    *Oke, wife to be arraigned in Lagos Friday
    *Lawal to be arraigned in Abuja

    The Federal Government has filed separate charges against former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayodele Oke and his wife, Folashade.

    A 10-charge was filed against Lawal and five others before the Federal High Court, Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in which the defendants are charged with diversion of public funds.

    Another four-count charge filed before the Federal High Court, Lagos has Mr. Oke and his wife as the only defendants. They are charged in relation to the huge funds discovered in a private building in Ikoyi, Lagos last year.

    It was learnt that they will be arraigned on Friday before Justice Aneke.

    Detail shortly….

  • Breaking: FG files 10-count charge against ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, 5 others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday filed a 10-count charge against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal and five others.

    Others are Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh John Monday; Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    All the suspects will face trial in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Read Also: Onnoghen at CCT: Appeal Court refuses to stay proceedings

    Part of the charges reads: “That you, Engr, Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a Director of Rholavision, Hamidu David Lawal being a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar being a staff of Rholavision Engineering Limited 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 conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c ) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.”

    …Details shortly

  • It’s no fun governing Adamawa, says Bindow

    Amidst intra-party opposition mounted mostly by fellow All Progressives Congress (APC) party men who aspired against him for the party’s governorship  ticket in last October’s primary election,  the state governor, Senator Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow, said Thursday that governing the state is a difficult  task.

    Only on Wednesday, Bindow’s closest challenger to the governorship ticket of the party in that primary, Ahmed Mahmood (Modi) and his frontline supporter, Babachir Lawal, had addressed the media, asserting that Bindow is not qualified for the APC’s ticket in view of a certificate forgery allegation against him, and that the party would lose the state if Bindow remained the flag bearer. Similarly, Bindow’s other challenger in the party’s governorship primary election held in October 2018, Nuhu Ribadu, who had always questioned the primary election that produced Bindow as the standard bearer for the March 2019 governorship election, had indicated his unwillingness to support Bindow when he handed his re-branded campaign offices and cars to President Muhammadu Buhari for his presidential re-election campaign.

    Making an indirect reference to the criticism against his government and candidacy of the APC  at a function Thursday in Yola, Bindow said governing the state  is no tea party and that he is too preoccupied with the difficult issues of governance to bandy words with opposition.

    Speaking at the inauguration of Next Level, a campaign programme initiated for him and President Muhammadu Buhari by a support group, Home Front, Bindow said, “I am focused at leaving a legacy behind. I have seen that some people must find things to say against me. I won’t join issues with them. I just want to face what I am here for. There are things I am doing that were not seen before. It is daunting governing Adamawa. When people talk as if it is easy, I laugh; but God brought me in and has been finding ways for me.”

    Read Also: Bindow presents N230bn for 2019 fiscal year

    Reporters sought his attention after the Home Front event at the City Green Hotel in Jimeta, Yola, on the claim by Modi that he (Modi) could still beat him to the APC ticket, and the assertion by Babachir that APC would lose Adamawa if it fields him (Bindow) as the governorship candidate because of issues surrounding his secondary school certidicate, Bindow abstained from a direct comment, saying the case is in court; but a former National Vice Chairman of the APC (Northeast), Dr Umaru Duhu, had addressed the media earlier in the day, accusing Babachir of anti-party activity and seeking his expulsion from the party.

    Duhu said during the briefing at the Correspondents’ Chapel in Yola Thursday morning, “Primaries of the party were conducted at all levels. A loyal party man, whether he benfitted or not, should wish his party to win general elections at all levels by embracing the candidates that were elected. It beats my imagination that somebody in the caliber of BD (Babachir David) Lawal who was the second national vice chairman of this party after me will come out to say that APC will lose Adamawa if Bindow is fielded as the candidate. It’s sad and I feel I owe it as a duty to reply Mr BD Lawal and to say it is tantamount to anti-party activity punishable under the laws of the APC.”

    Duhu said however that he is satisfied that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which has the power to disqualify candidates, had certified Bindow fit for the APC governorship candidacy, and appealed to Adamawa people to vote for him come March for a second term as governor.

  • DSS parades woman for using first lady’s name in multi-million naira fraud

    An audacious woman use the name and office of First Lady Aisha Buhari at the Aso Rock presidential villa to stage fraudulent acts, one of which may have yielded about N150 million is now in custody, the Department of State Security (DSS) disclosed on Monday.

    Briefing reporters at the DSS headquarters in Abuja, its spokesman, Mr. Peter Nnochirionye Afunanya stated that investigation is continuing towards unraveling how the light complexioned middle-aged lady variously know as Amina Mohammed, Justina Oluoha and Amina Villa managed to beat the meticulous security protocols at the presidential villa and engage in her ‘business’ over an undetermined period.

    However, the accused lady pointedly contradicted the DSS version of the story, yelling at the top of her voice that she was never a fraudster as she only arranged transactions in Federal Government real estate, with the assistance of top government officials who had been benefitting from such.

    “They should ask the First Lady’s sisters, Mariatu is involved, Babachir Lawal knows about this; all the directors have been collecting bribes

    “I can never be a fraudster, I only deal in selling real estate that the Federal Government was disposing. SSS has been keeping me in this office for four months,” she screamed before being returned to another part of the DSS headquarters.

    However, DSS spokesman, Mr. Afunanya who dismissed her claims of being detained for four months stated that she had been reporting at the DSS office since November 22 last year when her ‘ unauthoorized acess to the presidential villa and used the name and office of the First Lady to engage in a fraudulent act’ was discovered.

    “The woman who will soon be paraded before you used false aliases, false identities to defraud unsuspecting members before she was discovered; Amina Mohammed, also known as Justina Oluoha, Amina Villa, had, on 22nd of November 2017, paraded herself as the First Lady of Kogi State.

    “She used the false identity to evade protocol and scrutiny, thus gaining unauthorized access into the villa and particularly the residence of the First Lady and wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari; she took advantage of the fact that personalities such as  First Ladies, ministers and certain categories of officials are not taken through rigorous protocol and security checks at the villa (security) post.

    “What will  even surprise you is that Amina whose phone number is registered with the name Amina Villa had, on the said date, invited one Dr Alexander Chika Okafor also known as Chikason, into the villa wherein she made him to believe that the invitation was at the instance of the First Lady; investigation has revealed that the First Lady was away on lesser hajj and not in the villa during the period.

    “Dr Okafor had complained that he was fleeced of over N150 million with respect of a Federal Court of Appeal property in Lagos which Amina had promised to help him buy through the First Lady; the property was said to have been one of those under the Presidential Implementation Committee On Lease Of Federal Government Properties.

    “Investigation has shown that this unholy enterprise is not to the knowledge of the First Lady; what Amina simply did was to use the First Lady’s name and office as base to lure  and defraud her victims.

    “Members of the public are therefore advised to be wary of individuals or groups who drop names and offices of high government officials to defraud them,” he stated.