N500m Fraud: How We Got Evidence Against Ex-SGF, Lawal - Witness

 

A prosecution witness, Fatima Umar, on Wednesday told Justice Jude Okeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, how she extracted evidence linking a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to the alleged N500m fraud involving his companies, according to a report by Punch.

 

Umar, a certified data examiner with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, explained that she extracted a forensic report from an iPhone belonging to one Mr Gulani, using a cellebrite camera.

 

Lawal and his younger brother, Hamidu Lawal, Suleiman Abubakar, Apeh John, alongside two companies, Rholavision Engineering (fifth defendant) and Josmon Technologies (sixth defendant), are facing prosecution on offences bordering on fraud, diversion of funds and criminal conspiracy to the tune of over N500m.

 

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, explained in a statement that attempts by the prosecution counsel, Offem Uket, to tender the video evidence in a CD, was opposed by the defence counsel, Chief Akin Olujimi, (SAN).

 

The senior advocate argued that the prosecution had not produced any such certification.

 

Justice Okeke, after listening to the argument of both counsel, adjourned the matter till September 24 for continuation of trial.