A former secretary to the government of the Federation, Mr, Babachir Lawal and six others have been rearraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged fraudulent 554 million naira grass cutting contract.
The defendants again pleaded not guilty when the amended ten counts of fraud were read to them before Justice. Charles Agbaza of the high court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, Abuja.
The re-arraignment which is the second time since the case started followed the death of the former trial judge, Justice Jude Okeke on August 4th 2020. Following the not guilty charges, the defense lawyers pleaded with the judge to allow their clients to continue to enjoy the bail already granted them by the former judge.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had alleged amongst others in the tenth counts, that the defendants fraudulently converted accumulated proceeds of grass cutting contract worth over 500 million naira which Mr., Lawal as the the Secretary to the government of the Federation allegedly awarded in the companies in which he had interest.
Trial has been fixed for January 20th to 22nd, 2021.
