18 May 2011

http://allafrica.com/stories/201105180681.html

A week after he was arraigned for alleged complicity in embezzlement of public funds amounting to N75.7 billion, former Minister of Works, Dr. Hassan Lawal, was Tuesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a fresh charge of money laundering involving the sum of N42 million.

Although he pleaded not guilty to the charges, he was again denied bail by the trial judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu.

In refusing Lawal's application for bail, Justice Aliyu said the case would be given accelerated hearing. She consequently, adjourned till June 8, 9 and 10 for trial.

Last week, Lawal was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) along with 15 others over allegations of corruption, embezzlement and maladministration amounting to over N75.7 billion. He was denied bail by the court.

The ex minister who Tuesday pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges was meant to be arraigned alongside one Adesanya Adewale (who is now at large) on a 10-count charge, but prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shittu , asked the court to strike out the count charge where Adewale was also charged. He also asked the court to remand the accused person in prison pending trial.

Lawal's counsel, Mr. Yahaya Mahmood , had applied orally to the court to admit his client to bail especially as prosecution was yet to file a proof of evidence in support of the charges.

In order to persuade the court to grant bail, Mahmood said that his client 's health had deteriorated since his arrest. He also said that Lawal had a kidney ailment which required constant medical attention.

He also reminded the court that the accused person was presumed innocent until proven guilty and that his client was entitled to his liberty as long as the court put in place necessary conditions that will guarantee his appearance for trial.

Opposing the application for bail however, the prosecutor (Shittu) asked the court to consider the weight of the offence committed by the accused person, saying such offences must be treated with seriousness because it affected the image of the country both at the local and the international level.