The Economic and Financial Crime Commission says it has frozen the bank accounts of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal. According to Punch, both the personal account of Lawal and the account of Rholavision Engineering Limited, a company incorporated by the former SGF in 1990, have been frozen by the EFCC.
The report quoted a source as saying “as part of investigations into the former SGF, we have frozen the accounts of his companies which he allegedly awarded a N223m consultancy contract for the removal of invasive plant species in Komadugu, Yobe Water Channels.
“We are also tracing several accounts where monies were paid into and will find out their role in the alleged fraud. No stone will be left unturned. The SGF is still in our custody but he is giving us full cooperation.
“The Lawal’s firm was established by Lawal in 1990 for the purpose of ICT and not for agro-business. So, his associates will also explain why they got a contract to cut grass. They will also be asked to provide evidence of tax payment and all other necessary documents.
“Lawal claimed he was no longer heading the company when he awarded the contract to Rholavision but the Bank Verification Number of Babachir David Lawal was still the signatory to Rholavision Engineering Limited accounts and 13 other accounts, some with different names were being controlled by the SGF when he awarded the contracts.”
Recall that the Commission which had failed to investigate and prosecute the former SGF even after his sack, swung into action hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo released a strongly-worded statement advising President Buhari against seeking re-election. The statement had berated the current administration's war against corruption stressing that the President was encouraging corruption by protecting those around him.
