Houses Worth N872 Million Reportedly Seized From Ex-minister & Son By EFCC

Four houses said to be worth N872 million belonging to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen Bala, have reportedly been seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The Nation reports that according to investigations, this development as well as ongoing probe of the ex-minister is a result of petitions filed against him, including complaints pending since 2013. Following preliminary findings, EFCC reportedly obtained an interim forfeiture order to confiscate a N650 million house at 1 and 3, Mariam Mukhtar Street, Asokoro. Same was also secured to seize the ex-minister’s son’s three duplexes, costing about N222 million in the Apo Area of Abuja.

A top source in EFCC told the media:

“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.

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So far, our operatives have arrested, detained and quizzed Shamsudeen (his son). He is presently on administrative bail. We have also interrogated Hammoud…

The EFCC has confiscated three duplexes totalling N222million which were acquired by the ex-minister’s son…

We are investigating him (the ex-minister), we are yet to invite him for questioning. Certainly, we are closing in on him…”

Photo credit: The Nation