November 19, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it will appeal the ruling of Justice Charles Agbaza of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Abuja, which discharged and acquitted, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and others of N544 million contract fraud.
Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar and Apeh John Monday, are being prosecuted by the 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.
In the course of the trial, the EFCC called 11 witnesses to prove its case against the defendants.
But in a ruling of a no-case submission made by Lawal and his co-defendants, Justice Agbaza, on Friday, dismissed all the charges against Lawal and his co-defendants.
The court held that the anti-graft agency failed to establish the ingredients of the alleged offence.
Reacting to the ruling, the EFCC in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, expressed its dissatisfaction with the verdict.
Uwujaren said the commission will review the ruling and challenge its validity at the appellate court.
“The EFCC has given indication that it will obtain a copy of the judgment for urgent review and challenge its validity at the appellate court”, he said.
