The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday dropped the 47 counts of N6bn fraud charges against a former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, and nine others, before a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The accused were to be arraigned again before Justice Ahmed Mohammed on Thursday when the EFCC prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu, informed the court that he had “a firm instruction” of the commission to discontinue the charges.
The charges had been amended three times and was to start afresh after former trial judge, Justice Adamu Bello, retired from the bench in December 2013.
Justice Mohammed, upon the oral application by Shittu, discharged the accused and discharged them. Other accused persons who were discharged along with Lawal are Dr. Adeola Ademola, Dave Enejoh, Okala Yakubu and Thahal Paul.
Five others who were accused are companies: Digital Toll Company Ltd, Swede Control Intertek Ltd, Proman Vital Ventures Ltd, Wise Health Services Ltd and Abbey Building Society.
Lawal and others were being prosecuted for fraudulently obtaining a total sum of N6.41bn from the Federal Government, Kogi and Nasarawa State governments between 2006 and 2009 under a public-private partnership concession scheme for the construction of a bridge across River Benue.
The bridge projected to cost N24.36bn and was due for commencement on 21 May 2007 and completion on May 20, 2009 and was to link Guto and Bangana in Nasarawa and Kogi states respectively.
The federal and the two other state governments were said to have contributed N6.14bn to the joint account as stipulated by the agreement while the private partners in the scheme made no contribution.
Over 130 exhibits had been tendered while it was being heard by the retired Justice Adamu.
Shittu gave no reason for the withdrawal of the charges on Thursday. “I have firm instruction that the case against the accused persons, all of them, be discontinued.
“To be assure you that I did not make the application out of my own volition I asked them to put it in writing and they did. So, as an obedient servant, I have no other choice than to carry out the instruction. I hereby apply that the charges be discontinued and the accused persons be discharged”.
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Posted: at 26-09-2014 12:36 PM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero
But it's normal in that country,who have they ever convicted?.there system na just go loot the money come give us our own jeje,na national cake for who fit bribe himself reach up.as a matter of fact efcc is the most corrupted sector of nigerian government,i don't kn why it was introduced.smh
Posted: at 26-09-2014 08:09 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
benbellabiz at 26-09-2014 08:16 PM (10 years ago) (m)
if it where to be poor fishermen looking for their daily bread, they will remind them in prison for fishing in the so called illegal waters. EFCC my foot.
Posted: at 26-09-2014 08:16 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
Jonathan has finished this country, after all this visible corruption of Jonathan the stupid south south will still dey talk say Jonathan na the best president. Thunder go strike u all of Jonathan's supporters
Posted: at 26-09-2014 08:51 PM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
Jonathan has finished this country, after all this visible corruption of Jonathan the stupid south south will still dey talk say Jonathan na the best president. Thunder go strike u all of Jonathan's supporters
Ameen
Posted: at 27-09-2014 06:37 AM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
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