The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a criminal charge against Bauchi state governor-elect, Senator Bala Mohammed, at the FCT High Court, Abuja.
The former minister, who contested on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s platform, defeated incumbent governor, Mohammed Abubakar, who flew the All Progressives Congress ticket at the poll.
While the governor earlier accepted the outcome of the poll, he however, changed his mind and opted to challenge Mohammed’s election at the tribunal.
Arraignment
And barring any last minute in administrative procedure, the governor-elect would be arraigned before the court today.
Although it was, however, not clear which of the courts would hear the matter, the governor-elect however risks five-year jail term with hard labour if found guilty of the charges.
The charge sheet, marked CR/177/17, revealed Mohammed, a former FCT minister, was accused of accepting a N550million worth of house as gratification from Aso Savings & Loans Plc while serving as minister in 2014.
The property, it was further gathered, is situated on No 2599 & 2600 Cadastral Zone, AO4 Asokoro District, Abuja.
The EFCC said the alleged gratification was accepted as reward by Mohammed “for performing your official duties,” an offence contrary to Section 18 (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 18 (d).
The section reads: “Any person who offers to any public officer, or being a public officer solicits, counsels or accepts any gratification as an inducement or a reward for-
(a) voting or abstaining from voting at any meeting of the public body in favour or against any measure, resolution or question submitted to the public body;
(b) performing or abstaining from performing or aiding in procuring, expediting, delaying, hindering or preventing the performance of any official act;
(c) aiding in procuring or preventing the passing of any vote or the granting of any contract, award, recognition or advantage in favour of any person; or
(d) showing or forbearing to show any favour or disfavour in his capacity as such officer, shall, notwithstanding that the officer did not have the power, right or opportunity so to do, or that the inducement or reward was not in relation to the affairs of the public body, be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to five (5) years imprisonment with hard labour.”
The commission, through its counsel, Wahab Shittu, listed the charges to include; an allegation that the governor-elect made a false statement to an EFCC investigating officer, Ishaya Dauda, that he acquired the said property through a mortgage facility from Aso Savings & Loans.
The commission also accused the former minister of not making full disclosure of his property on 54, Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, Abuja, while filing his asset declaration form at the EFCC, an offence it said was contrary to Section 27 (3) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (3) (b).
Under this section, “any property (a) whether real or personal, which represents the gross receipts a person obtains directly as a result of the violation of this .Act or which is traceable to such gross receipts;
“(b) within Nigeria which represents the proceeds of an offence under the laws of a foreign country within whose jurisdiction such offence of activity would be punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and which would be punishable by imprisonment under this Act if such act or activity had occurred within Nigeria, is subject to forfeiture to the Federal Government and no other property right shall exist on it.”
Further to this, the commission similarly alleged the former minister failed to declare another property on Agwan Sarki Kaduna, Kaduna state, even as it said he made a false declaration that a property on CITEC Kwara House 5, AP Street, Mbora, Abuja belongs to him.
Contrary to the former minister’s claim of being the rightful owner of the property, EFCC said findings revealed one Abubakar Abdu Mohammed owns the property.
It said the governor-elect in 2014, “did use your office and position to confer corrupt and undue advantage upon your associates by allocating four numbers of fully detached duplexes and eleven numbers semi-detached duplexes valued at N314million only through the Presidential Tax Force on Sale of Government Houses to them…”
…60 lawyer-team to defend ex-minister
Meanwhile, 60 lawyers of Bauchi state origin under the aegis of Body of Bauchi Lawyers of Conscience (BOBALAC) are to defend the state governor-elect at the governorship election petition tribunal today.
Addressing journalists over the weekend in Bauchi, leader of the group, Barrister Shipi Rabo said 60 of their members had assured to complement the effort of five senior advocates of Nigeria already hired by the governor-elect to defend his mandate.
“Therefore, ahead of the tribunal’s inaugural sitting slated for Monday, April 29, 2019, the mood in BOBALAC is that we are ready as well as highly motivated for the challenge, and God willing, our team will successfully deliver the goods,” he said.
The group also disclosed its plans to sue the outgoing government for its alleged plan to award fresh contracts worth N4.5 billion through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) with a view to allegedly handing over an empty treasury to the incoming governor.
On the removal of the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, W. S. N Onnoghen, the group called on President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission to go beyond extending the appointment of Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad who hails from the state in acting capacity, but confirm him as substantive CJN.
