TheCable

Ofem Uket, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has accused witnesses from the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) of frustrating the corruption trial of Babachir Lawal.

Lawal, former SGF, is facing trial alongside six others in an alleged N544.1 million grass-cutting scandal.

The EFCC had arraigned him alongside Hamidu Lawal, his brother and director of Rholavision Engineering Limited, with two others on a 10-count charge bordering conspiracy and fraud.

While cross-examining Aminu Muhammed, a principal procurement officer in the SGF office, at an FCT high court on Tuesday, Uket said 80 percent of the witnesses were from the SGF office.

The EFCC counsel said the case was adjourned till February 19 at the instance of the witness who later started giving excuses on why he could not appear in court.

“Over 80 per cent of the witnesses I bring to court, are all coming from OSGF,” Uket said.

“I called him last week, he said he was in his village. I called him yesterday in the presence of the IPO and he said he was in Bauchi.

“The IPO told him that he (IPO) had a tracker which showed that he (witness) was in Abuja. It was then he admitted that he was in Abuja. I only saw him today.”

Jude Okeke, the presiding judge, adjourned the case till April 8.