A former
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, and his son,
Shamsudeen are in serious trouble as the EFCC has seized 10 choice properties
belonging to the family.
The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission has seized 10 houses and plots belonging to the
immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed,
and his son, Shamsudeen.
According to
The Nation, EFCC believes the properties were acquired by father and son with
stolen public funds. They include three plots of land with development at
various stages of completion at No 54 Mike Akhigbe Way, Jabi, Abuja; Plot 2276
Sunrise Estate, Asokoro, Abuja and Plot 1804 Damaturu Crescent, off Ahmadu
Bello Way, Garki 11, Abuja; Nos. 1 and 3, Marian Street, Asokoro, Abuja and a
twin plaza at Wuse Zone 3 by Tamarak Guest Inn, Abuja.
The rest
are: No. 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja; an estate and plaza at Dawaki, opposite
Gwarinpa, Abuja; an Estate at Jahi District, Abuja; three number duplex Abuja
Investment Company Limited Estate, Abuja and a shop at Dubai Market, Kaura
District, Abuja.
“The seizure
of the first three properties is on the strength of an interim forfeiture order
by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja which temporarily
forfeited the properties to the federal government pending the conclusion of
investigation and determination of criminal charges against the suspect,” the
Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren,
said yesterday.
“The court
also gives the Commission power to appoint competent persons/firm to manage the
assets/properties listed.
“The rest
properties were confiscated on the strength of the order by Justice Gabriel
Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja which forfeited the assets to the
federal government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of
the criminal charges against the suspects.”
He said the
court also forbids “any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or
alienation or otherwise of the property/assets.”
The EFCC
plans to arraign the ex-Minister in court any moment from now to face trial for
alleged corruption.
It was
gathered yesterday that the EFCC has gone far in its investigation of the
ex-Minister.
He said the
properties have been placed under temporary forfeiture until the trial of the
two persons is concluded.
Senator Bala
Mohammed was arrested in connection with alleged N1billion fictitious
contracts. He was also questioned on alleged allocation of 12 choice plots to
his son running into billions of Naira; 37 other commercial plots of land worth
about N8billion to his suspected front and the controversial N1trillion Abuja
land swap.
A mansion
allegedly worth N782million, belonging to the ex-Minister, has been placed under
Interim Assets Forfeiture.
Justice
Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on February 3, 2017 granted
Shamsudeen Bala, bail in the sum of N100million with two sureties who must be
private businessmen or public servants of the rank of assistant director and
above.
Bala is
being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of money laundering to the
tune of N1.2 billion.
The accused
was docked on February 1, 2017, along with four companies – Bird Trust Agro
Allied Limited, Intertrans Global Logistic Limited, Diakin Telecommunications
Limited and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Limited.
Bala and
Diakin Telecommunications Limited were accused of making cash payment of the
sum of N74, 244,005 (seventy-four million, two hundred and forty-four thousand,
five naira) to Abuja Investment Company Ltd without going through a financial
institution.
The offence
was said to be in breach of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).
On
arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
One of the
counts said:
“That you,
Shamsudeen Bala (alias Shamsudeen Mohammed Bala), Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd
and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd sometime in 2015 in Abuja within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without going through a financial
institution make cash payment of the sum of N296,000,000 (two hundred and
ninety six million naira) only to A & K Constructions Ltd Abuja and Sunrise
Estate Development Ltd for Construction of a house on plot nos 2116 and 2276 at
Asokoro Gardens (alias Sunrise Estate) Abuja, which sum exceeded the statutory
limit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under
Section 16(2)(b) and (4) of the same Act.”
The trial of
the ex-minister’s son is to commence on March 27, 2017.
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