N864m fraud: Ex- FCT minister Bala Mohammed received a house from a bank as bribe— Witness

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a High Court in Gudu, Abuja, that former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Bala Muhammed received a house as bribe.

A prosecution witness for the anti-graft agency, Ishaya Dauda, under cross- examination, however told the court that no government money was traced to the former Minister’s account, in the course of investigations.

A senior Detective Superintendent with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dauda alleged that the former minister on the request of Aso Savings, had relocated Abuja Urban Mass Transit from their plot at Mpape area along Kubwa express.

While under cross-examination by counsel to Bala, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the witness admitted that the former minister was arraigned based on an intelligent report by the commission and not on a petition.

The ex- FCT minister is being prosecuted by the commission on a six-count charge bordering on false declaration of assets and graft to the tune of N864 million.
Dauda said though the work of the commission was based on petitions and intelligence reports, the petition against the minister came first, adding that investigation had not been concluded in respect of the petition.

Upon further questioning on the source of the intelligence report, the witness said he would not disclose the source.
Earlier, while the witness was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Ben Ikani, he said that the defendant received a property at Asokoro as a bribe by Aso Savings and Loans.

The witness gave evidence that Aso Savings and Loans Ltd had stood as guarantor to Abuja Urban Mass Transit when they obtained a loan of N1.8 billion from the former Oceanic bank for the acquisition of new buses.
He said Abuja Urban Mass Transit had defaulted in repayment of the loan which led to Aso Savings being made to clear the debt.

“For Aso Savings to be able to recover their money from Abuja Mass Transit, they requested from the then FCT minister to relocate Abuja Urban Mass Transit to another place.

“This was to enable Aso Savings and Loans Ltd take over the land. They now bought the Asokoro property for the defendant in appreciation,’’ the witness said.
He said that to confirm that, they had invited the former Managing Director of Aso Savings, Hassan Usman, and the former Executive Director, Marketing, Maimuna Aliyu, to make statements.

He said they also invited the seller of the said Asokoro property, Ifeanyi Ihejirika, and Ogechi Nwaduke who also gave statements in their office.
Mr. Dauda said that when the defendant was questioned about the property, he initially refused to make statements.

Other properties allegedly belonged to the former minister which he did not declare in the Asset Declaration Form given by the EFCC include a property at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja, and a plot of land in Kaduna.

So far, the prosecution tendered the statements made by the defendant to the EFCC in court which was admitted and marked as exhibit A.
The other exhibit tendered, marked and admitted as exhibit B was the EFCC Asset Declaration Form.
Justice Abubakar Talba adjourned further trial to February 12, 2018 for continuation.

Andrew Orolua, Abuja