Ex FCT Minister Bala Mohammed & Son to temporarily forfeit 10 properties to FG

Shamsudeen and Bala Mohammed

Former FCT minister, Bala Mohammed and his son Shamsudeen have been ordered to temporarily forfeit 10 properties to the Federal Government, PUNCH reports.

The orders were given by two Abuja Federal High Court judges, Justice Okon Abang and Justice Gabriel Kolawole.

The courts also barred the suspects from selling anything found in the properties, including luxury cars, jewellery and other valuables.

The seizure of some of the properties traced to the ex-minister was pursuant to an interim forfeiture order by Justice Abang.

Justice Abang ordered the temporary forfeiture of the properties “to the Federal Government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of criminal charges against the suspects.”

“The court also gives the commission power to appoint competent persons/firm to manage the assets/properties listed,” Abang added.

The remaining properties were confiscated on the strength of the order by Justice Kolawole, which ordered that the assets be “forfeited to the Federal Government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of the criminal charges against the suspects.”

“The court also forbids any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/assets,” Kolawole said.

According to PUNCH, the properties 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.

Two other properties, belonging to the ex-minister, which were also seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, are located at No. 1 and 3 Marian Street, Asokoro, Abuja, and a twin plaza at Wuse Zone 3 by Tamarak Guest Inn, Abuja.

Five other properties, belonging to the ex-minister’s son were also seized.

The properties are at 7 Gana Street, Maitam, Abuja; an estate and plaza at Dawaki, opposite Gwarinpa, Abuja; an estate at Jahi District, Abuja; three duplexes at Abuja Investment Company Limited Estate, Abuja, and a shop at Dubai Market, Kaura District, Abuja.

Bala is also being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 15-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion.

He was arraigned before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who admitted him to N100m bail with two sureties in the sum of N50m each.

The EFCC accused the minister’s son of carrying out business transactions worth billions of Naira in cash, which is in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

Specifically, Shamsudeen was accused of buying all the aforementioned properties in cash.

One of the charges read in part, “That you, Shamsudeen Bala (alias Shamsudeen Mohammed Bala), Bird Trust Agro Allied Limited and Intertrans Global Logistics Limited, sometime in 2015 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did, without going through a financial institution, make cash payment of N200,000,000 to A&K Constructions Limited , Abuja, and Sunrise Estate Development Limited for Construction of a house on Plot Nos 2116 and 2276 at Asokoro Gardens (alias Sunrise Estate), Abuja, which 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.”

Bala is also under investigation by the House of Representatives Committee on the FCT for an alleged scam in the controversial Centenary City project.