Court remands ex-FCT minister’s Son in Kuje prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the son of former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Shamsudeen Mohammed Bala, to be remanded in Kuje prison for laundering N1.1billion.

The remand order followed the arraignment of Shamsudeen Bala,(alias Shamsudeen Mohammed Bala ) , Bird Trust Argo Limited, Intertrans Global Logistics Limited, Diakin Telecommunications Limited and Bal- Vac Mining Nigeria Limited on 15 count charge before Justice Nnamdi Demgba.

Shamsudeen pleaded not guilty to the charges that was read to him by the court clerk and the court entered plead of not guilty for him and the companies.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel Prince Ben Ikani asked the court to remand the defendant in prison custody and fix dates for trial.  But the defence counsel Chief Chris Uche (SAN) informed the court he had filed a motion on January 27 for bail application.

Arguing the motion, Uche drew the court’s attention to the crimes of money laundering and non-disclosure of defendant assets which the commission alleged Shamsudeen committed. He said they are bailable offences and the court has the power to admit the defendant to bail.

The defence counsel also told the court that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had admitted the defendant to an administrative bail and he did not jump the bail.

Opposing the application, Ikani stated that the defendant was dubious and added that “count 11 to 15 of the charges displayed someone who should not be trusted.”

The prosecution also opposed the bail application on the ground that the defendant refused to voluntarily submit his international passport and declare his assets. He said there was no assurance that the defendant would be available to face his trial.

Justice Demgba reserved his ruling for Friday, February 3, and adjourn trial to 27and28 March.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused Shamsudeen, the son of the immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, of allegedly laundering the sum of N 1, 105, 719, 005.

The commission said the ex-minister’ s son carried out business transactions worth billions of naira in cash, which is in violation of the Money Laundering Act.

One of the charges reads in part, “ 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 N 200, 000, 000 to A& K Constructions Limited , Abuja , and Sunrise Estate Development Limited for Construction of a house on Plot nos 2116 and 2276 at Asokoro Gardens ( alias Sunrise Estate) , Abuja , which 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 . ”

Another charge reads , “ That you , Shamsudeen Bala , 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 N 200, 000, 000 only to Faruk Saleh at Abuja as payment for the purchase of House 2A , No 7 Gana Street , Maitama , Abuja , which exceeded the statutory limit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act , 2011 ( as amended by Act No 1of 2012) and punishable under Section 16( 2) ( b ) and ( 4) of the same Act. ”

The commission also accused Shamsudeen of failing to declare his assets when he completed the EFCC Asset Declaration Form A.

The suspect allegedly concealed four of his accounts domiciled at Standard Chartered Bank.