The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on
Monday re-arraigned a former Minister of Works, Hassan Lawal, and 13
others on a 37 count charge of fraud. They were arraigned at a Federal
High Court in Abuja before Justice Adamu Bello.
According to the EFCC, the 14 accused persons are being prosecuted over a N75bn fraud.
The EFCC had on May 11 arraigned the former minister alongside 14 others on a 24-count charge of fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to N75.7bn.
Other accused persons re-arraigned with Lawal included Adeogba Ademola, Digital Toll Company Ltd; Swede Control Interlink Ltd; Proman Vital Ventures Ltd; Nairda Ltd; Siraj Nigeria Ltd; and Wise Health services Ltd. Others are : Dave Enejoh; Okala Yakubu; Thahal Paul; George Elzogbi; Abbey Ayodele; and GIS Transport Limited. Lawal and Adesanya Adewole were also charged on another nine count charge of N71m fraud before Justice Bello.
The re-arraignment of the accused persons followed a petition by their defence counsel alleging bias against Justice Bilikisu Aliyu before whom they were initially arraigned and asking the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to withdraw the case from her.
The defence counsel, therefore, moved for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of their petition by the CJ.
As a result, the trial judge adjourned the case to June 13 to allow the CJ take a decision on the petition while she ordered all the eight accused persons remanded in Kuje prison.
At the resumed hearing of the case before a new judge, all the 14 accused persons who were in court took a fresh plea and pleaded not guilty. A consolidated application was thereafter made by lead counsel, Ibrahim Ishaku, SAN, seeking bail on liberal terms. Prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, opposed the application, praying the court to take into consideration the fact that a similar application was made before a sister court and denied. He, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the application for bail and remand the accused persons in prison custody.
In response to the arguments canvassed by both parties, Justice Bello adjourned the case till Tuesday (today), for ruling on the applications. He, however, said all the accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody. Lawal and and the others are being tried for charges bordering on award of contracts to non-existing companies; award of contracts to companies without financial and infrastructural muscle to deliver; contract splitting, contract duplication to same companies and fraudulent crediting of the former minister’s personal account with government monies not earned.
By Agency Reporter Courtesy Of: Punch
According to the EFCC, the 14 accused persons are being prosecuted over a N75bn fraud.
The EFCC had on May 11 arraigned the former minister alongside 14 others on a 24-count charge of fraudulent award of contracts, money laundering and embezzlement amounting to N75.7bn.
Other accused persons re-arraigned with Lawal included Adeogba Ademola, Digital Toll Company Ltd; Swede Control Interlink Ltd; Proman Vital Ventures Ltd; Nairda Ltd; Siraj Nigeria Ltd; and Wise Health services Ltd. Others are : Dave Enejoh; Okala Yakubu; Thahal Paul; George Elzogbi; Abbey Ayodele; and GIS Transport Limited. Lawal and Adesanya Adewole were also charged on another nine count charge of N71m fraud before Justice Bello.
The re-arraignment of the accused persons followed a petition by their defence counsel alleging bias against Justice Bilikisu Aliyu before whom they were initially arraigned and asking the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to withdraw the case from her.
The defence counsel, therefore, moved for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of their petition by the CJ.
As a result, the trial judge adjourned the case to June 13 to allow the CJ take a decision on the petition while she ordered all the eight accused persons remanded in Kuje prison.
At the resumed hearing of the case before a new judge, all the 14 accused persons who were in court took a fresh plea and pleaded not guilty. A consolidated application was thereafter made by lead counsel, Ibrahim Ishaku, SAN, seeking bail on liberal terms. Prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu, opposed the application, praying the court to take into consideration the fact that a similar application was made before a sister court and denied. He, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the application for bail and remand the accused persons in prison custody.
In response to the arguments canvassed by both parties, Justice Bello adjourned the case till Tuesday (today), for ruling on the applications. He, however, said all the accused persons be remanded in EFCC custody. Lawal and and the others are being tried for charges bordering on award of contracts to non-existing companies; award of contracts to companies without financial and infrastructural muscle to deliver; contract splitting, contract duplication to same companies and fraudulent crediting of the former minister’s personal account with government monies not earned.
By Agency Reporter Courtesy Of: Punch
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