The Nation reports that confiscated 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; 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.
Speaking on the development, the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, said:
“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 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.”
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 reads:
“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.”Shamsudeen's trial is to commence on March 27th.
10 comments:
But is 10 not too much? Haba!
...merited happiness
Dont understand our justice system. Why will big thiefs be granted bail and go scot free while hungry petty thiefs are lynched and locked up. This is parthetic. Where is the rule of law?? Send them to prison. General population and they will be preaching anticorruption when they get out.
All these things they're seizing and we're clapping for them, where are they keeping them?
PDP grand children, you try past, chimpanzees, ape, black monkey, thunder that will fire you, is doing press-up at Yaba.
HMMMMM
AUNTY LINDA 👩
PLEASE KINDLY FOLLOW ME ON LIS @OKECHUKWU NNODUECHI
Look at Bavaria... Very uncomfortable for him... He would wear it because he has enuf stolen funds to spend on frivolities.. Awon oloriburuku olopolo dudu dude
good
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
What!!!
Let's get rid of these people - that should scare the rest of us straight.
Bala Shamshudeen and sons are clearly enemies of Naijas and the state. These glorified thieves in the nation's power corridors need to be summarily neutralized bcos that's the only way sanity, trust and confidence can be restored in the government/economy. Blair was on point when he spoke about Naija being a fantastically corrupt place, walahi. The level of endemic graft is simply beyond words. QED@atm
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