EFCC seizes 14 houses, land linked to Bala Mohammed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has seized 14 pieces of property linked to Bala Mohammed, former minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), and his son, Shamsuddeen.

In a court application filed before the federal high court in Abuja, on September 11, the commission sought the interim forfeiture of the said property.

It said the properties — located in “choice areas” of Abuja — are “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and crimes.”

They include a mansion, duplexes, as well as plots of land.

Mohammed and his son are currently being prosecuted by the commission on charges bordering on corruption, money laundering and failure to declare assets.

Already, they have forfeited 10 pieces of property, still located in Abuja, on the order of two high courts in the nation’s capital.

The anti-graft agency said although the duo have “have denied ownership and connection” to the newly discovered pieces of property, preliminary investigation shows the said pieces of property are “unlawfully acquired through corrupt practices by the former minister and his son while in office as a minister.”

EFCC said the properties were kept and concealed in the names of the proxies and nominees of the former minister and his son, and for their benefit.

It added that the companies, in whose names some of the property were said to be held, include Intertrans Global Logistics, Bird Trust Aglo-allied Limited, Bal-Vac Mining Limited, and Diakin Telecommunication Limited, and are owned by the duo.

The affidavit seeking the forfeiture of the pieces of property, according to PUNCH, reads: “That investigation revealed that the former minister of the federal capital territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son are the owners and beneficiaries of Diakin Telecommunications Ltd, which they used to acquire House FS1A, Green Acres Estte, Apo-Dutse, Abuja, and No. FS1B Green Acres Estte, Apo-Dutse, Abuja, while senator Bala Mohammed was minister of federal capital territory. A copy of the sales agreement between Abuja Investment Company Limited with Diakin Telecommunication Ltd in respect of the houses at FS1A and FS1B is hereby annexed and marked as exhibits EFCC A1 and 2.

“That investigation equally revealed that the former minister of the federal capital territory Abuja, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son used a company known as Diakin Telecommunication Ltd to corruptly acquire Plot N0; 32 Cadastral Zone D06 Karsana West, Abuja; Plot 1420 Cadastral Zone B10, Dakibiyu and Plot 1261 Cadastral Zone C16 industrial Area 1 extension Abuja. Copies of C of O dated 11/6/2013, 06/04/2013 and 06/09/2014 issued by the FCT minister in the name of Diakin Telecommunication Ltd is hereby annexed and marked as exhibit EFCC A3, 4 &5 respectively.”