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Tag: Babachir lawal

  • Alleged N544m fraud: EFCC detains ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, to be arraigned today

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday detained the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal. The embattled former SGF is scheduled for arraignment in court on Tuesday (today).

    Recall that the commission had earlier filed a 10-count charge against the former SGF and five others.

    Others are: Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh John Monday; Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    All the suspects will face trial in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for alleged N544, 119, 925.36 for the removal of Invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.

    But ahead of the arraignment, the former SGF was taken into custody yesterday day.

    A source said: “We have detained the former SGF and some suspects in preparation of their arraignment in court on Tuesday.

    “They have been served charges and their trial will commence. The EFCC team is ready for the prosecution of the suspects with its witnesses ready accordingly.”

    On the charge sheet dated January 30, and filed by Offem Uket, M. S. Abubakar and Abba Muhammed, the EFCC accused Lawal of holding “indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Ltd by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE).

    The contracts are:

    Consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N7,009,515.96

    Consultancy contract awarded to Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N6,453,318.38.

    Contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N272,524,356.02.

    Contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.00.

    The charges read in part: “That you, Engr, Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a Director of Rholavision, Hamidu David Lawal being a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar being a staff of Rholavision Engineering Limited on or about the 7th of March 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c ) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh Monday John being the Managing Director of Josmon Technologies Ltd and Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about February, 2016 at Abuja did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of a private interest in contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd and thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.

    “That you, Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 4th of March, 2016 at Abuja did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N272,524,356.02 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

    “That you Engineer Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and a director of Rholavision Engineering Ltd on or about the 22nd August, 2016 at Abuja did knowingly hold indirectly a private interest in the contract awarded to Josmon Technologies Ltd but executed by Rholavision Engineering Ltd for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation to the tune of N258,132,735.00 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) through the Presidential Initiative for North East (PINE) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

  • BREAKING: FG files 10-count charge against ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, five others

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) on Wednesday filed a 10-count charge against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal, a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ayodele Oke, and his wife, Mrs. Folashade Oke.

    Others are Hamidu David Lawal; Sulaiman Abubakar; Apeh John Monday; Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited.

    All the suspects will face trial in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Part of the charges reads: “That you, Engr, Babachir David Lawal while being the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and a Director of Rholavision, Hamidu David Lawal being a director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, Sulaiman Abubakar being a staff of Rholavision Engineering Limited on or about the 7th of March 2016 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did conspire to commit an offence to wit: fraudulent acquisition of property and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c ) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 12 of the same Act.”

    …Details shortly

  • Anti-Graft War: NGO demands speedy prosecution of Babachir Lawal, ex-NIA D-G

    Anti-Graft War: NGO demands speedy prosecution of Babachir Lawal, ex-NIA D-G

    An NGO, has commended the office of the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice for the prompt prosecution of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, for non-declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The NGO, Human and Environmental Development Agenda Resource Centre (HEDA), gave the commendation in a letter sent to the office of the AGF which was disclosed on Sunday in Lagos.

    It said that similar swiftness applied in the speedy prosecution of Justice Onnoghen should be utilised in effecting the prosecution of several pending corruption-related cases investigated by the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.

    According to HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, who signed the letter, an urgent prosecution of the principal suspects in the Babachir Lawal and Amb. Oke alleged corruption scandals should commence with immediate effect.

    “First and foremost, we most humbly applaud and commend the timeous and prompt nature with which the office of the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice ensured the expeditious prosecution of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen over the non-declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    “Based on the foregoing, we had wished the swiftness applied in the speedy prosecution of Chief Justice of Nigeria was utilised and visited in effecting the prosecution of several pending corruption-related cases investigated by the anti-corruption agencies in Nigeria.

    “Prominent among these cases are: The reported case of fraud allegation against the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal which was reported by several newspaper and upon which Lawal was sacked from office.

    “It was reported on Oct. 30, 2017 that the former Secretary-General of the Federation, Babachir Lawal was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari based on the recommendation of the panel headed the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

    “Though, he was interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and reportedly detained by the Commission, he has yet to have his days in court,’’ Suraju said in a statement.

    “Another case which bears so much resemblance with the aforementioned, was reported since 2017 wherein the former Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayodele Oke was suspended in April, 2017.

    “His suspension followed the raid conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in April 2017 where about 43.4 million dollars, and nearly 27,800 pound sterling and some N23 million ($75,000) was recovered at his empty apartment at Osborne Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos.

    “He was eventually sacked on Oct. 30, 2017, based on the recommendations of the same three-man Panel headed by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.’’

    Suraju said HEDA noted further that “the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice is saddled with the powers to institute, undertake, take over, continue and discontinue criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created.

    “We have the mandate to pursue to till infinity, accountability, transparency and integrity in governance; owing to this, we hereby request that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation exercises its power to prosecute the above-mentioned individuals indicted by the Vice president’s panel, with the view to setting a standard that the law is to be upheld ultimately to setting same as a deterrent to future perpetrators.

    “As part of our mandate of promoting accountability in governance and monitoring compliance of anti-corruption agencies with their mandate in ensuring fair prosecution of the fight against corruption without element of bias against only political opposition, we demand urgent and immediate prosecution of the principal suspects in the Babachir Lawal and Ambassador Oke scandal with immediate effect.

    “Failure to institute the demanded legal action against suspects with one month of the receipt of this letter, our organisation will be left with no option than seek judicial action to compel your office to discharge its constitutional responsibility,’’ suraju said in the letter.

     

  • 10th Bola Tinubu Colloquium: Sacked SGF, Babachir Lawal joins Buhari in front seat (Photos)

    Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Engr. Babachir Lawal on Thursday staunched participants at the 10th Bola Ahmed Tinubu Colloquium going on in Lagos when he (Lawal) joined President Muhammadu Buhari at the front roll.

    See pictures from the event below:

     

     

  • Asset forfeiture: Go after Maina, Babachir Lawal, leave Ekweremadu – PDP tells FG

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said rather than pushing for the forfeiture of properties allegedly belonging to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government should beam his anti-corruption search lights on corrupt officials withing the corridor of power.

    According to a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, the PDP accused the ruling party of not being ready to fight corruption, adding that the APC-led administration’s obsession with Mr. Ekweremadu was an indication that the party (APC) is out to ”scandalise, persecute, and bring down its perceived opponents”.

    The party frowned at the motion filed by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property seeking the forfeiture of assets allegedly not declared by Ekweremadu.

    Recall that the federal government, Wednesday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to freeze all hidden assets that were traced to Ekweremadu.

    This demand was made via an ex-parte motion filed by legal practitioner, Festus Keyamo, on behalf of the presidential panel.

    In its statement, the PDP recalled how the government rushed to arraign Mr. Ekweremadu and the senate president, Bukola Saraki, in 2016 on trumped up charges of forgery of Senate Standing Rules, even when there was not even a mention of their names in the contentious police report or proof of evidence. The government eventually withdrew the charges for lack of merit.

    It also recalled how the police raided and ransacked Ekweremadu’s official guest house in Abuja in May 2017 and blamed it on false whistleblowers, whom they charged to court, stressing that nothing has been heard about the trial of the alleged false whistleblowers again.

    “In the current matter, apart from relying on an obsolete law to dabble into the roles of the Code of Conduct Bureau, we are not surprised that the panel could not carry out a thorough and independent investigation on the purported property of the senator, but relied on a petition by the former Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike, who is standing corruption trial in several courts, after his removal from office by the National Judicial Council (NJC) in 2017.

    “We recall that the senator accused Umezulike and some politicians of stealing and doctoring his will, inserting non-existent properties or properties that had nothing to do with him. It is also instructive that this calculated smear campaign is in the guise of forfeiture of phantom assets came on the heels of Senator Ekweremadu’s alarm and scathing criticism of the APC-led administration over the nation’s deteriorating democracy and in the midst of the ongoing executive-legislature faceoff, in which a ranking senator of the APC extraction identified Ekweremadu as a pillar of support to the Senate President”, the statement read.

    The PDP said contrary to the federal government’s claims, Ekweremadu had assured it that he declared his assets.

    It wondered why the federal government, by its own admission, rushed to court without completion of investigation, but had ”turned deaf ears to the outcry by Nigerians for the prosecution of the administration’s functionaries and friends indicted of corruption”.

    “This government and party have a wet appetite for prosecution and media trial of the opposition while investigation is on, but refuses to prosecute its members and friends indicted by even its own presidential or ministerial panels.

    “While members of the opposition are taken to court on stretchers, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal, indicted by both the Senate and a presidential panel only got a pat on the back.

    “The APC Federal Government has failed to prosecute those involved in the Ikoyigate scandal, and the recall of fugitive Abdulrasheed Maina, among others. Ekweremadu is a major symbol of the opposition. We believe that this is part of the grand plan to strangulate the PDP ahead of the 2019 elections and we will resist,” it added.

    The PDP further alleged thatEkweremadu’s travail was part of the grand plan to strangulate the opposition ahead of 2019 election and challenged the federal government to publish the assets of APC political office holders.

    “Now that the federal government has gleefully inundated the public with the imaginary assets of the deputy senate president, can it now also publish the full assets of the President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo, cabinet ministers and APC governors, who have all failed to make public their assets as promised during the 2015 election”, it said.

     

  • Just in: EFCC releases ex-SGF, Babachir Lawal

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

    Lawal, who has been in EFCC custody since Wednesday, was released on bail on Friday evening.

    President Muhammadu Buhari sacked him after he was indicted for sharp practices in issues involving internally displaced persons in the north-east.

    He was accused of using his company Rholavision Engineering Ltd to corner a N200 million contract for the clearing of evasive plant species in Yobe.

    His arrest happened barely 24 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote a strongly-worded letter to Buhari, accusing him of condoning corrupt practices among his allies.

    This prompted speculations that Lawal was detained because of Obasanjo’s letter.

    But the EFCC denied such claim, saying it had nothing to do with Obasanjo’s letter and that both incidents were coincidental.

  • BREAKING: EFCC arrests, detains ex-SGF, Babachir Lawal

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday evening arrested former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal who was suspended last year along with the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Details of the arrest by the anti-graft agency is sketchy as at the time of filing this report.

     

    More details shortly…

  • New SGF, Boss Mustapha is Babachir Lawal’s cousin, says Junaid Mohammed

    A member of the House of Representatives during the Second Republic, Dr Junaid Muhammed, has said that the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF Boss Mustapha, is a first cousin to Babachir Lawal.

    Mr. Muhammed made this known while reacting to the pronouncement on Monday evening.

    He said, “Before you begin to celebrate the appointment of Boss Mustapha as the new SGF, do you know that he is in fact, Babachir Lawal’s first cousin? This is a continuation of the cronyism and nepotism the Buhari-led administration has become infamous for.”

  • News Hour: Buhari sacks Babachir Lawal, appoints Boss Mustapha as new SGF I TNGtv

  • We will resist attempts by presidency to reinstate Lawal as SGF, Senate vows

    We will resist attempts by presidency to reinstate Lawal as SGF, Senate vows

    The Nigerian Senate has stated that it was under pressure to compromise the report of the Adhoc Committee investigating the awards of contracts under the Presidential Initiatives on North East (PINE) in favour of the suspended Secretary General to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engr. Babachir Lawal.

    The Senate however stated at plenary on Wednesday that it will not hesitate to go into a fresh war with the Presidency if Lawal is returned from his suspension as substantive SGF.

    This followed its consideration of the final report of its Adhoc Committee, which accused Lawal of process violation in award of contracts under the Presidential Initiatives on North East (PINE) on Wednesday.

    The 45-page report was submitted by the Committee Chairman, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central).

    The final report revealed that contractors paid over N500m in kickbacks to a company linked Lawal.

    The bribe was discovered to have been paid to Rholavision Engineering Limited.

    Senators were shocked that besides the N270 million for the grass-cutting contract, there was another N200 million spent to hire consultants on grass-cutting.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that an interim report, late last year, had indicted Lawal for corruption.

    It also resolved to immediately send its resolution to President Muhammadu Buhari for immediate action, even as it adopted the report.

    After considering the votes and proceedings on the parliamentary process required in arriving at a logical conclusion on the matter, Senator Muhammad Shittu (APC, Jigawa North-East), moved for the adoption, while Senator Ben Murray- Bruce (PDP Bayelsa) seconded it.

    In his remarks after adoption of the final report, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, confirmed the existence of pressure groups to protect the job of the suspended SGF.

    Saraki said: “I am sure of the kind of pressure on the members; especially the chairman and some of us in the leadership and the kind of pressure we were under.

    “But for you to have been able to stay firm and do your job, and carry out your responsibility, I must commend the committee and the chairman, in particular.”