An Abuja High court on Friday, May 12, granted N500 million bail to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, Aledeh can report.
Recall that the court had on Wednesday, remanded the former Minister in in Kuje Maximum Prison over a seven (7) count charge bordering on bribery and false asset declaration in the sum of N864 million and properties in Abuja and Kaduna leveled against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
According to the anti-graft agency, Mr. Mohammed accepted N550 million in gratification from the Aso Savings and Loans Ltd, in respect of house 2599 and 2600 Cadastral Zone AO4, Asokoro, Abuja sometime in 2014.
The anti-graft agency said the former FCT Minister lied to Detective Ishaya Daudu of the Economic Governance Section of the Commission on October 24, 2016 while making a statement that the house was acquired through the bank’s mortgage loan.
On the said date, Mr. Mohammed also failed to make full disclosure in an EFCC asset declaration form about property No 54 Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi Abuja and declared “property at Angwan Sarki, Kaduna state as undeveloped plot whereas it is a fully built house.”
According to the EFCC, Mr. Mohammed falsely claimed in his asset declaration form that the property: CITEC Kwara House 5 A9 Street, Mbora, Abuja FCT belonging to one Abubakar Abdu Mohammed was his.
EFCC also alleged that Mr. Mohammed falsely claimed in his asset declaration form that the property: CITEC Kwara House 5 A9 Street, Mbora, Abuja FCT belonging to one Abubakar Abdu Mohammed was his.
According to the EFCC, Bala also “used his position as chairman Board of Aso Savings to confer corrupt and undue advantage to himself, by allocating four numbers fully detached duplexes and 11 numbers semi-detached duplexes valued at N314 million only through the Presidential Taskforce on Sale of Governments Houses.”
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory however pleaded not guilty to the seven (7) count charge bordering on bribery and false asset declaration in the sum of N864 million and properties in Abuja and Kaduna leveled against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Presiding judge, Justice Abubakar Talba had adjourned the matter till May 12 (today) for ruling on the application for bail.
Justice Talba had also ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the bail application.
At the resumption of proceedings today, Justice Abubakar Talba granted the defendant N500 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
The presiding judge also ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the Court registrar.
