Despite strong evidence linking him to a N544 million grass-cutting contract scam, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court cleared former Secretary-General of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal of all charges on Friday.
Along with his brother Hamidu David Lawal, Sulaiman Abubakar, Apeh John Monday, Rholavision Engineering Ltd., and Josmon Technologies Ltd., Mr. Lawal had been on trial.
On Friday, Justice Charles Agbaza determined that none of the elements of the offences and charges made against Mr. Lawal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had been proven by the 11 witnesses that the EFCC had called.
Mr Agbaza further held that the anti-graft commission was unable to prove that Mr Lawal was a part of the Ministerial Tenders Board, which reviewed and approved the deal, or even the Presidential Initiative for North-East, the group that decided to award the contract.
President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Mr Lawal from office in 2017 after a Senate committee accused him of embezzling N544 million.
The senate panel showed evidence of how funds went into Mr Lawal’s companies’ bank accounts, then, he moved the funds into his own personal accounts.
He took part of monies earmarked for victims of Boko Haram and said he used them to award contracts to check invasive grasses in the region.
Mr Lawal’s discharge and acquittal in the face of damning evidence is generating dismay among many Nigerians who now question the justice system administration in Nigeria.