An FCT High Court, in Jabi Abuja, yesterday adjourned until Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 the trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Babachir Lawal.
Babachir is charged with 10 counts bordering on fraud, criminal conspiracy to diversion of over N544 million belonging to the Federal Government, in the award of contract in the removal of evasive plant species in the North-East.
The EFCC also charged Hamidu, the former SGF’s younger brother, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh Monday and two companies: Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.
Yesterday’s hearing before Justice Charles Agbaza was slated for cross-examination of the prosecution’s third witness.
The witness, a Deputy Director, Head of Digital Forensic Laboratory, EFCC, Fatima Umar, was cross-examined by Babachir’s counsel, Akin Olujinmi, (SAN).
Justice Agbaza, at the end of Olujimi’s cross-examination, adjourned the matter until Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 for the continuation of cross-examination of the witness by the remaining four defence counsel.
Recall that the EFCC alleged that Lawal, as the SGF, awarded grass-cutting contracts to companies in which he had interests.
They, however, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge preferred against them.
