The High Court in Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja today, Tuesday ordered that Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, and three others be remanded in Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) custody pending when the court will rule their bail application on Wednesday.
The court issued the order after Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Hamidu David Lawal, and Apeh John Monday and two other companies – Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Limited were arraigned on a 10-count charge brought against him by the EFCC as they were accused of involvement in an N272 million contract fraud.
The alleged fraud was committed in relation to contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) for grass cutting at some selected Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, the ex-SGF was alleged to have diverted the contracts to his companies of interest.
During the court proceedings, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges read to them. Subsequently, M. S. Abubakar, the prosecuting Lawyer pleaded for the shortest date to commence trial proper.
At that point, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), lawyer to Lawal reminded the court about his client’s pending bail application.
He said: “in expectation of arraignment, the defence filed application dated February 7, 2019, seeking the order of the court to grant bail on liberal terms
The Lawyer added, his client has never jumped bail since April 13, 2018, when he was released by the EFCC on administrative bail and has been reporting to the EFCC consistently based on the conditions given to him.
Lawyer to the second defendant, Sunday Ameh (SAN) also prayed similar to the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, awaiting 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’
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 all parties, Justice Okeke fixed ruling for today (February 13) and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
