EX-Mminister, Others Docked For N65b Fraud

Former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Mohammed Lawal was on Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on a 24-count charge bordering on criminal abuse of office, conversion of funds belonging to the Federal Government, Kogi and Nasarawa states governments.

Dr. Lawal was arraigned alongside three other Nigerians, 7 Nigerian Companies as well as two foreign representatives of foreign companies which allegedly conspired with the former Minister to defraud the nation of about N65 billion which they also conspired to conceal the illicit origin of the funds.

The former minister’s counsel, Mr. Mohammed Magaji, attempted to stall the arraignment on the grounds that his client was served with the charge sheet at about 10 pm last night which did not allow him reasonable time to prepare for his trial.

The attempt was foiled by the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu, who insisted that the arraignment will go on.

Some of the companies charged alongside the ex Minister were not represented, prompting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, Mr. Wahab Shittu to apply for the striking out of the names of the companies and one other accused person, said to be at large, from the charge sheet to enable those present to take their pleas.

All present accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the charge, most of the allegations against the accused persons were allegedly committed between 2006 and 2009 giving credence to widely held belief that the prosecution of the former Minister may not be unconnected with his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in Nasarawa state.

His defection contributed immensely to the defeat suffered by the PDP in the last governorship election which the opposition CPC candidate, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, won.

Trial of the accused persons was subsequently adjourned till 6 and 7 of June while they, except the two representatives of the foreign companies, were remanded in Kuje Prison as the anti-graft agency told the court that their detention facilities are currently overcrowded.

By Nnamdi Felix/Abuja