News
Court fixes September 14 for trial of ex-SGF Lawal for alleged fraud
Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court, Lugbe, on Monday fixed September 14 and September 16 for the continuation of trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and six other persons for alleged N544.1 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Lawal alongside his brother, Hamidu, who is a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, on multiple charges of fraud.
Other defendants are an employee of the Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar and the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Limited, Apeh John.
The judge fixed the dates after the EFCC counsel, Offem Uket, prayed for an adjournment to enable him to file additional proof of evidence after a ruling on the eligibility of their witness.
At last hearing of the case, the prosecution called a Compliance Officer from Eco Bank Plc, Chidi Eboigbe, to testify on the matter.
Counsel for the former SGF, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), however, objected to the witness giving evidence in the case, saying he was not listed by the prosecution in its proof of evidence before the court.
READ ALSO: N500M ALLEGED FRAUD: Ex-SGF Lawal fights EFCC move to tender video evidence
Justice Okeke held that the witness brought by the prosecution was not eligible because he was not listed in the proof of evidence filed by the prosecution.
He also held that allowing the witness to testify on the matter would be contrary to the provisions of section 36 (6)(b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The judge said such could be possible only when section 379 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 which is further proof of evidence was followed.
He said: “Section 379 (1)(3) provides that, the parties must provide list of witnesses and the summary of their statements to the court and counsel in the matter.
“Adequate time and facilities must be provided to the defendants to enable them prepare properly to defend their cases.
“It is a statutory provision that the prosecution must give the defendants all materials they need to prepare for their defence.”
Join the conversation
Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism
Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.
As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.
If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.
Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...