The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned ex-SSG Babachir Lawal and three others before Justice Jude Okeke of a Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Maitama.
Ex-SSG Babachir Lawal along with his younger brother, Hamidu David Lawal, one Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday and two companies, Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd, were re-arraigned on an amended 10-count charge bordering on fraud, diversion of funds and criminal conspiracy to the tune of over N500 million.
They were earlier arraigned before Justice Okeke on February 13, 2019, and the prosecution was meant to open its case today, March 18, 2019.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the EFCC, Offem Uket told the court that the charges against them had been amended and that they had to take a fresh plea.
However, citing Section 218 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA 2015, Akin Olujimi, SAN, counsel for Ex-SSG Babachir Lawal, argued that “before the charge is taken, the prosecution ought to have filed the amended charge to ensure that it was properly endorsed”.
Other defence counsels aligned themselves with the submission of Olujimi.
Justice Okeke, while ordering the prosecution to comply with the section cited by Olujimi, however, ruled that in the interim, the amended charges be read to the defendants.