EFCC boss, Ibrahim Larmode |
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday November 15,2012
re-arraigned former minister of works, Dr. Hassan Lawal and nine others before
Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 44 count amended
charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, conversion, and fraud
to the tune of N75.7 billion.
Lawal
and his co accused (Dr. Adeogba Godwin Ademola, Digital Toll Company Limited;
Swede Control Interlink Limited; Proman Vital Ventures Limited; Nairda Limited;
Siraj Nigeria Limited and Wise Health Services Limited), who were first
arraigned on May 11, 2011, however pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.
The
prosecution counsel, Wahab Shittu sought the leave of the court to commence
trial as, according to him, the prosecution was ready to move speedily with
trial and indeed had a witness on hand to testify against the accused persons.
Testifying,
Mr. Chike Nwibe, a deputy superintendent of police with the EFCC and a member
of the investigating team, revealed how a contract to build what was known as
Buto Bagana Bridge project across River Benue from Nasarawa to Kogi state
became an avenue to swindle the state by the former minister and his accomplices.
He
disclosed how, despite objections to the handling of the contract by
stakeholders, the inability of the concessionaires to pay their side of the
equity fund, and the resolution not to approve further payments for the
project, the former minister went ahead to release the sum of N3 billion to
Digital Toll Company Limited.
The
company, registered a day before the contract was awarded and owned by the
second accused, Dr. Adeogba Godwin Ademola was made concessionaire of the
project which was originally given to Swede Control Intertek Limited (equally
owned by the second accused) by the Federal Executive Council.
Nwibe
further stated that apart from not paying 60 percent of the equity contribution
in the Public /Private Partnership contract agreement, Digital Toll Company
diverted part of the N6.4billion 40 percent contribution by the public partners
(the Nasarawa, Kogi and Federal governments).
Other
anomalies discovered during investigation including the award and payment
of a satellite imaging contract to Sirag GIS Transport Limited to
the tune of N438 million, even though the same project had earlier been awarded
to Nairda Limited for
N2.6
million and fully paid.
The
case has been adjourned to 4th and 6th February, 2013 for continuation
of trial.
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