EFCC seizes Ex-minister Bala Mohammed four houses
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized four
houses worth N872 million from a former Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen Bala.
The
ex-minister is also under investigation on alleged fictitious contracts
of about N1billion, allocation of 12 choice plots worth billions of
naira and 37 other commercial plots of land worth about N8 billion to
his suspected front named Tariq Hammoud as well as the controversial N1
trillion Abuja land swap.
More than 16 companies linked with
fictitious contracts awarded by Bala had been under surveillance and
their owners grilled by EFCC.
The anti-graft agency quizzed
Shamsudeen, Hammoud and top directors of the Federal Capital Territory
administration, including that of Treasury, Ibrahim Bomoi; Land, Babayo
Mainasara, and Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS), Ms Jamila
Tangaza.
Tangaza, who had been in detention in the past one week, was battling for bail as at press time.She
has, however, been linked to N800 million questionable contracts to her
personal firm apart from benefiting from plots of land from the
ex-minister.
According to investigations, the ongoing probe of the
ex-minister followed petitions against him, including complaints
pending since 2013.
It was gathered that following preliminary
findings, EFCC obtained an interim forfeiture order to confiscate a N650
million house at 1 and 3, Mariam Mukhtar Street, Asokoro.
The
same forfeiture order was secured to seize the ex-minister’s son three
duplexes costing about N222 million in the Apo Area of Abuja.
A
top source in EFCC, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are probing the
immediate past Minister of FCT on many allegations against him,
including award of N1 billion fictitious contracts; abuse of office by
allocating 12 choice plots to his son and 37 other commercial plots
worth about N8 billion to Hammoud, who is suspected to be his front;
land swap, among others.
“Some of the petitions against Bala
Mohammed had been pending since 2013. Initial findings showed that the
ex-minister used fictitious companies to award contracts worth N1
billion in FCT. In one instance, a man with three companies was allowed
to bid for one slot.
“About 16 companies used for fictitious contracts are under investigation because they did not supply items credited to them.
“We
have also uncovered how Bala allocated plots of land to his friends,
business partners. For examples, he allocated 12 plots of land to his
son, Shamsudeen, and 37 commercial plots of land to his business front
called Tariq Hammoud.
“Some of those quizzed so far confessed that
Bala used unconventional methods in raking illicit funds and laundering
same. Each time the ex-minister allocated a plot of land, he would find
out the market value and ask you to pay half of the amount to him in
cash.
“For instance if a plot of land was N2 billion, Bala would ask for N1 billion cash from the prospective buyer. He was smart in collecting cash.“But the EFCC has traced allocation of 37 commercial plots to Hammoud and how N8billion was made from it. In fact, we saw a proposal by Tariq Hammoud to sell some of the plots.“So far, our operatives have arrested, detained and quizzed Shamsudeen. He is presently on administrative bail. We have also interrogated Hammoud.”
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