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Corruption: Court remands ex FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed in prison Mr Olumide Former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed By Paschal Njoku, Abuja Justice Abubakar Talba of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory sitting in Guru, yesterday remanded the former Minister of FCT, Bala Mohammed in Kuje prison, pending ruling on his bail application tomorrow. The remand order followed the arraignment of Mohammed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a six-count criminal charge bordering on receiving of gratification and making false assets declaration of some of his property. Specifically, the Federal Government anti graft agency alleged before the court that Mohammed, while being the Minister of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, had in 2014 in Abuja did accept gratification of a house worth N550 million situated at No. 2599 and 2600 Cadestral zone AO4 Asokoro district Abuja from Aso Savings and LoanLoans Bank PLC. The EFCC claimed the said house was a reward for performing his official duties. By so doing, the EFCC stated Mohammed committed an offence contrary to Section 18(b) of the Independent Corrupt Paractices and other related offences Act 2000, and punishable under Section 18(d) of the same Act. More so, Bala Mohammed is being prisecuted for abusing his office while being FCT Minister and Chairman Board of Directors, Aso Savings and Loans Bank PLC. It was alleged that he did use his office and position to confer corrupt and undue advantage to his associates by allocating four numbers fully detached duplexes and eleven numbers semi detached duplexes valued at N314million through the Presidential Taskforce on sale of government houses to them. The offence is punishable under Section 19 of ICPC Act 2000. Some of the charges read: "That you Bala A. Mohammed on 24th day of October 2016 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in the course of filling Asset Declaration Form at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did knowingly fail to make full disclosure of your property to wit: your property at No. 54 Mike Akhigbe street, Jabi Abuja and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 37(3)(c) of the same Act. "That you Bala A. Mohammed on 24th day of October 2016 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in the course of filling Asset Declaration Form at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission did knowingly make a false declaration of four property known and situate at Angwa Sarki Kaduna, Kaduna State as undeveloped plot of land whereas it is a fully built house and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(3)(c) of the same Act. Bala Mohammed was also accused of knowingly making a false declaration that a house known and situate at CITEC Kwara House 5 A9 street Mbora, Abuja FCT belonging to Abubukar Abdul Mohammed was his house and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27(3)(b) of EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27(3)(c) of the same Act. Though, he denied all the charges, however, his bail application was vehemently opposed by the Federal Government lawyer, Ben Ikani. Opposing the application, the prosecutor urged the court to take cognizance of the medical certificate presented to it by the defendant saying the date on the certificate was as far back as July 14, 2016. "The certificate exhibited attracts issues of concern that will affect the mind of the court. "My submission is that the certificate exhibited here is not relevant to the health concern of the defendant because to me he looks healthy. "Moreover, we have medical facilities in the country that can attend to whatever health concerns affecting the defendant. Consequently, Ikani urged the court to refuse the application and grant the defendant bail on very stringent conditions. . Source: People's Daily Mr Olumide's Blog The post Corruption: Court remands ex FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed in prison appeared first on Mr Olumide's Blog. RSS