COURT REMANDS BABACHIR LAWAL IN ECONOMIC CRIMES COMMISSION CUSTODY

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arraigned the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation before the court on a 10 count charge, bordering on alleged conspiracy and fraud.

Penpushing further reports that, the commission filed the charges against Lawal and Hamidu David, Suleiman Abubakar and two companies Rholavision Engineering Limited and Josmon Technologies Limited. All the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges when read to them.

At the Tuesday   court session, the counsel to the first defendant, Akin Olujimi,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had filed an application that his client be granted bail, while the prosecution counsel, Muhammed Abubakar, argued that the court should not grant the bail application.

Penpushing also reports that, Justice Jude Okeke, gave the order that he (Lawal) be remanded following an appeal by his counsel to grant him bail,and  prior to this, the adjourned the matter to Wednesday to rule on the bail application.

The accused it is recalled was removed from office after a Senate Committee which investigated the management of money meant to assist persons displaced by Boko Haram indicted him, and after his removal in 2017 by President Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians have called for his prosecution.