N544m fraud: EFCC vows to appeal court verdict freeing ex-SGF

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will appeal the ruling of Justice Charles Agbaza of an Abuja High Court which dismissed the 10-count charge of corruption brought against a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.

Lawal, his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, and Apeh Monday were prosecuted by the EFCC alongside two companies, Rholavision Engineering and Josmon Technologies on amended 10-count charge, bordering on fraud, diversion of funds and criminal conspiracy to the tune of over N544million.

READ ALSO: N544m fraud: Court discharges, acquits ex-SGF Lawal, others

Ruling on the no case submission made by the defendants on Friday, Justice Agbaza held that the EFCC which presented 11 witnesses in the course of the trial, failed to establish the ingredients of the alleged offence.

The presiding judge added that the anti-graft agency did not establish that the former SGF was either a member of the Presidential Initiative for North East that awarded the contract or a member of the Ministerial Tenders Board that vetted and gave approval to the disputed contract.

However, the EFCC, in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said it will obtain a copy of the judgement for urgent review and challenge its validity at the appellate court.

The Star