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A prosecution witness narrated to an Abuja court, on Thursday, how two companies allegedly linked to a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, were paid N544 million for the controversial grass cutting contract.
The grass-cutting scandal cost Mr Lawal his job in 2017.
Hamza Buwai, a Deputy Director, Finance and Accounts from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), appeared before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja, as the second prosecution witness in Mr Lawal’s trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mr Lawal with amended 10 counts, including awarding contracts to companies in which he had interests, fraud, criminal conspiracy, and diversion of about N544 million belonging to the government.
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The trial of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs has been adjourned till January 25, 2021.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 16-count charge against Turaki, SAN, his special assistant, Sampson Okpetu and two companies: Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited for money laundering to the tune of N714, 670, 014.
At the resumed trial, an account statement and account opening package of Abdulrahman Yusuf, a bureau de change operator, Oberone BDC Ltd and Halima Tanimu Turaki were tendered and admitted in evidence through the ninth prosecution witness, Umar Garba, a relationship manager with First City Monument Bank.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its first witness. x
The prosecution witness, a relationship manager in the Sales Department, First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mohammed Babansule, tendered the statement of account of one of the companies, Josmon Technologies Ltd., the sixth defendant.
Some other documents tendered by the bank official were the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum of Understanding, AEDC receipts, Letter of reference, International passport page of Apeh Monday, the fourth defendant, and board resolution to open an account, all for the sixth defendant.
Babansule while giving evidence in chief had said that the statement of account for the sixth defendant was generated from the computer system of the bank, printed, signed, endorsed, and certified by the bank before sending the same to the EFCC.
At the resumed trial today (Wednesday), account statement and account opening package of Abdulrahman Yusuf, a bureau de change operator, Oberone BDC Ltd and Halima Tanimu Turaki were tendered and admitted in evidence through the ninth prosecution witness, Umar Garba, a relationship manager with First City Monument Bank.
Grass-cutting contract scam: Babachir Lawal’s trial begins afresh, first witness testifies
The defendants were accused of fraudulently converting the N544m proceeds of the grass-cutting contracts.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (
EFCC) on Wednesday called its first witness in the restarted trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and six others accused of N544m grass-cutting contract fraud.
A relationship manager in the Sales Department of the Wuse Zone 4, Abuja branch of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Mohammed Babasule, tendered the statement of account and account opening documents of one of the companies standing trial along with Mr Lawal and the other defendants on Wednesday.