Court admits 7 exhibits against former SGF Babachir Lawal
- The court has admitted seven document tendered as evidence against the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal
- Ten other documents tendered on the matter by the EFCC were rejected because they were no duly certified
- The judge in his ruling held that the need for the certification of all documents was to ensure accuracy of evidence tendered before the court
An Federal Capital Territory sitting in Maitama on Monday, June 17, admitted seven documents as exhibits on the ongoing trial of a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal.
Daily Trust reports that the documents admitted by the court were duly certified after they were tendered before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Also, during the trial, 10 other documents which were tendered as evidence before the court were rejected by Justice Jude Okeke in a ruling delivered on Monday because they were not certified.
It was gathered that the documents included payment vouchers raised by Presidential Initiative for the North-East (PINE) for payments to both Josmon Technologies Limited and Rholavision Engineering Limited.
All the document were tendered through the first prosecution witness, Hamza Adamu, a staff of PINE.
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However, in his ruling, the judge said that the need for the certification of all documents was to ensure accuracy of evidence tendered before the court.
Justice Okeke said: “I have examined the bundle of the documents and it consisted of original documents with attachments of uncertified ones, a total of 17 documents.
“The documents are bearing different dates. Besides this, it is also numbered as different exhibits, the mere fact that they were stapled together does not make them one document,” the judge held.
The former SGF was arraigned on a 10-count charge bothering on conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N544 million along with Hamidu David Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday and two companies, Rholavision Engineering Ltd and Josmon Technologies Ltd.
Babachir was accused to have illegally benefitted from the approval of N544 million for the removal of invasive plant species and simplified irrigation.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Babachir was initially detained by the EFCC over a 10-count charge.
He was arraigned on Tuesday, February 12, along with five other defendants.
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Source: Legit.ng
