EFCC seizes 14 properties traced to ex-FCT minister Mohammed, son

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has
seized14 properties located in “choice areas” of Abuja traced to
the immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr.
Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsuddeen.

The EFCC stated this in a court application filed by one of its
prosecutors, Mr. Ben Ikani.

The application, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on
September 11, 2017, sought the interim forfeiture of the
properties.

The anti-graft agency stated that although it had “recovered and
seized” the properties, they could not be forfeited to the Federal
Government without a court order.

The EFCC stated that both Mohammed and his son “have denied
ownership and connection” to the properties.

But the commission maintained that “preliminary investigation
has revealed that the properties listed on the schedule are
unlawfully acquired through corrupt practices by the former
minister and his son while in office as the Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory.”

The properties, according to the EFCC, included one “mansion”
located at Sunrise Estate, Asokoro, Abuja; and three sets of
four-bedroomed semi-detached duplex at Green Acres Estate,
Apo-Dutse, Abuja.

Others were two sets of four-bedroomed fully-detached duplexes
each with boys’ quarters on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, a trekable
distance to Transcorps Hilton Hotel Abuja.

Also listed as part of the seized properties was a
four-bedroomed detached duplex with boys’ quarters located at 9,
Platinum Luxury Home White Estate, Asokoro, Abuja.

Title documents attached to the EFCC’s application stated that
some of the facilities in some of properties included “excellent
road and drainage network; dedicated transformer; borehole for
constant water supply; fitted kitchen, bedroom cabinet and
wardrobes; ample parking space; and children playing ground.”

The rest of the properties are plots of land in six different
locations in Abuja.

Some of the plots of land were said to be located at Karasana
West, Abuja, measuring 84,657.30 square metres; Industrial Area 1
Extension, Abuja, measuring 1.45Ha; and Guzape, Abuja measuring
2.7Ha.

Others were located at Industrial Area 1 Extension, Abuja,
measuring 1.26Ha; Karasana West, Abuja measuring 64,507m2; and
Dakibiyu, Abuja measuring 1,251.15m2.

Already, the EFCC is prosecuting the former minister before a
High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, on six
corruption-related charges, and his son, Shamsuddeen, before the
Federal High Court, Abuja, on 15 counts of money laundering and
failure to declare some assets.

The charges against Shamsuddeen involve about N1.1bn.

Two high courts in Abuja had in February ordered the former
minister and his son to forfeit 10 properties located in Jabi,
Garki, Maitama and Jahi and other areas of Abuja.

But the EFCC stated in its fresh application that “the crux of
this application is that the respondents are being investigated for
offences bordering on abuse of office, land scams, corruption and
corrupt practices, money laundering and diversion of revenue of
government while being the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.”

It also stated that the properties traced to the father and son
were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities
and crimes, kept and concealed in the names of the proxies and
nominees of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,
Senator Bala Mohmmed, and his son, Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, and
for their benefit.”

According to the EFCC, the properties were held in the names of
different companies and one Maimuna S. Aliyu.

The commission described Aliyu as Bala’s proxy allegedly used to
acquire the houses 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street Maitama,
Abuja.

The companies, in whose names some of the properties were said
to be held, are Intertrans Global Logistics/Bird Trust Agloallied
Limited, Gal Vac Mining Limited, and Diakin Telecommunication
Limited.

Giving the details of its investigation, the EFCC maintained
that the former minister and his son are the owners of the of
Diakin Telecommunications Ltd, Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, Bird Trust Nig
Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, and Intertrans Global
Logistics Ltd in whose names some the properties were acquired.

The commission also alleged that Bala, while in office as the
FCT minister, appointed one JemilaTangaza as Special Assistant and,
thereafter, Director of Abuja Geographic Information System (A018)
“to facilitate fraudulent allocations of plots of land to her and
her proxies and nominees in choice areas.”

The commission alleged that the plots of lands were sold and
their “proceeds laundered in the acquisition of some of these
houses like House No 9 Plantinurn White Estate Abuja, acquired in
the name of Mohammed Musa.”

It said Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd was linked to the son of
the former minister, Shamsuddeen.

The affidavit filed in support of the forfeiture application
read in part, “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.

“That investigation revealed that the former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son
are the owners and beneficiaries of Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, Bird Trust
Nig Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd which they used to
acquire houses and plots of land in choice areas in the Federal
Capital Territory Abuja, particularly Houses 1A and 2A of No. 7
Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja; House FS2B Green Acres Estate,
Apo-Dutse, Abuja, respectively. A copy of the Sub-Lease Agreement
in respect of houses number 1A, 2A & FS2B is hereby annexed and
marked as Exhibits EFCC A 6, 7 and 8 respectively.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has
seized14 properties located in “choice areas” of Abuja traced to
the immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr.
Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsuddeen.

The EFCC stated this in a court application filed by one of its
prosecutors, Mr. Ben Ikani.

The application, filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on
September 11, 2017, sought the interim forfeiture of the
properties.

The anti-graft agency stated that although it had “recovered and
seized” the properties, they could not be forfeited to the Federal
Government without a court order.

The EFCC stated that both Mohammed and his son “have denied
ownership and connection” to the properties.

But the commission maintained that “preliminary investigation
has revealed that the properties listed on the schedule are
unlawfully acquired through corrupt practices by the former
minister and his son while in office as the Minister of the Federal
Capital Territory.”

The properties, according to the EFCC, included one “mansion”
located at Sunrise Estate, Asokoro, Abuja; and three sets of
four-bedroomed semi-detached duplex at Green Acres Estate,
Apo-Dutse, Abuja.

Others were two sets of four-bedroomed fully-detached duplexes
each with boys’ quarters on Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, a trekable
distance to Transcorps Hilton Hotel Abuja.

Also listed as part of the seized properties was a
four-bedroomed detached duplex with boys’ quarters located at 9,
Platinum Luxury Home White Estate, Asokoro, Abuja.

Title documents attached to the EFCC’s application stated that
some of the facilities in some of properties included “excellent
road and drainage network; dedicated transformer; borehole for
constant water supply; fitted kitchen, bedroom cabinet and
wardrobes; ample parking space; and children playing ground.”

The rest of the properties are plots of land in six different
locations in Abuja.

Some of the plots of land were said to be located at Karasana
West, Abuja, measuring 84,657.30 square metres; Industrial Area 1
Extension, Abuja, measuring 1.45Ha; and Guzape, Abuja measuring
2.7Ha.

Others were located at Industrial Area 1 Extension, Abuja,
measuring 1.26Ha; Karasana West, Abuja measuring 64,507m2; and
Dakibiyu, Abuja measuring 1,251.15m2.

Already, the EFCC is prosecuting the former minister before a
High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Gudu, Abuja, on six
corruption-related charges, and his son, Shamsuddeen, before the
Federal High Court, Abuja, on 15 counts of money laundering and
failure to declare some assets.

The charges against Shamsuddeen involve about N1.1bn.

Two high courts in Abuja had in February ordered the former
minister and his son to forfeit 10 properties located in Jabi,
Garki, Maitama and Jahi and other areas of Abuja.

But the EFCC stated in its fresh application that “the crux of
this application is that the respondents are being investigated for
offences bordering on abuse of office, land scams, corruption and
corrupt practices, money laundering and diversion of revenue of
government while being the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.”

It also stated that the properties traced to the father and son
were “reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities
and crimes, kept and concealed in the names of the proxies and
nominees of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,
Senator Bala Mohmmed, and his son, Shamsuddeen Bala Mohammed, and
for their benefit.”

According to the EFCC, the properties were held in the names of
different companies and one Maimuna S. Aliyu.

The commission described Aliyu as Bala’s proxy allegedly used to
acquire the houses 1A and 2A of No. 7 Gana Street Maitama,
Abuja.

The companies, in whose names some of the properties were said
to be held, are Intertrans Global Logistics/Bird Trust Agloallied
Limited, Gal Vac Mining Limited, and Diakin Telecommunication
Limited.

Giving the details of its investigation, the EFCC maintained
that the former minister and his son are the owners of the of
Diakin Telecommunications Ltd, Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, Bird Trust Nig
Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, and Intertrans Global
Logistics Ltd in whose names some the properties were acquired.

The commission also alleged that Bala, while in office as the
FCT minister, appointed one JemilaTangaza as Special Assistant and,
thereafter, Director of Abuja Geographic Information System (A018)
“to facilitate fraudulent allocations of plots of land to her and
her proxies and nominees in choice areas.”

The commission alleged that the plots of lands were sold and
their “proceeds laundered in the acquisition of some of these
houses like House No 9 Plantinurn White Estate Abuja, acquired in
the name of Mohammed Musa.”

It said Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd was linked to the son of
the former minister, Shamsuddeen.

The affidavit filed in support of the forfeiture application
read in part, “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.

“That investigation revealed that the former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Senator Bala Mohammed, and his son
are the owners and beneficiaries of Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, Bird Trust
Nig Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd which they used to
acquire houses and plots of land in choice areas in the Federal
Capital Territory Abuja, particularly Houses 1A and 2A of No. 7
Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja; House FS2B Green Acres Estate,
Apo-Dutse, Abuja, respectively. A copy of the Sub-Lease Agreement
in respect of houses number 1A, 2A & FS2B is hereby annexed and
marked as Exhibits EFCC A 6, 7 and 8 respectively.”