EFCC Seizes 10 Properties Worth Billions of Naira from Ex -FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed and His Son

The 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.