Arraignment of Bauchi governor-elect, Bala Mohammed, stalled – TheNigerialawyer

The scheduled arraignment of the Bauchi State Governor-elect,
Bala Mohammed, before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High
Court was on Monday, stalled, due to the absence of the judge,
Yusuf Halilu.

According to the court registrar, the judge, Mr Halilu, was
absent due to an engagement at the election tribunal in Abeokuta,
the capital of Ogun State.

Mr Mohammed, who was in court, was to be arraigned on Monday by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on fresh six
counts charges. The charges are bordering on alleged failure to
declare his assets and giving of false information.

He has since been seen at the ongoing Nigerian Governors Forum
taking place at the Banquet hall, State House, Abuja.

Mr Mohammed, a former minister of the Federal Capital Territory
(FCT), was declared the winner of the recent Bauchi State
governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP). He defeated the incumbent governor of the state,
Mohammed Abubakar, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was revealed in the information sent by the court registrar
to the EFCC Director of Legal Services and Prosecution, Chile
Okoroma, on Sunday.

A source in the commission highlighted that Mr Mohammed,
popularly known as Kaura, ‘will be arraigned on six counts
bordering on false declaration of assets and giving false
information to the EFCC.

“There are some properties he bought which he did not disclose
to the EFCC that were discovered. The details will be unveiled when
the charges will be read to him. A renowned legal practitioner and
the EFCC counsel, Wahab Shittu, has been assigned to prosecute Bala
Mohammed, before a new judge,” the source said.

Count five of the charges to be read to the accused reads, “That
you, Bala A. Mohammed, on or about October 24, 2016 at the head
office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja,
within the judicial division of the High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory, made a false statement to the detective, Ishaya
Dauda, investigating officer with the Economic Governance Section
of the EFCC, Abuja to wit:

“That you acquired house situate at No. 2599 and 2600, Cadastral
Zone AO4 Asokoro District Abuja through a mortgage facility from
Aso Savings & Loan Bank Plc and you thereby committed an
offense contrary to Section 09 (2) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment)
Act 2004 and punishable under Section 39(2)(b) of the same
Act.”

The accused had in a recent interview with Saturday Punch in
Bauchi, vowed that he would probe his predecessor, adding that his
trial by the EFCC was politically-motivated.

He said, “It is completely politically-motivated but I believe
in justice and that was why I went to the court of justice. Because
of the evidence that we have, he is going to be thoroughly probed
because I have not been spared by the federal government.

“I have been under probe by the EFCC and because I believe in
accountability and was influential in the government of President
Goodluck Jonathan, I chose not to run away.

“I will stand and answer all questions. I have passed the first
battle by winning my case against the federal government on human
rights, for arbitrarily imprisoning me and then calling me names.
Of course, N5m has been awarded in my favour and the next one is
the other spurious charges against me. I believe in justice and
equity.”

Speaking with journalists, the prosecution counsel, Mr Shittu
said, “EFCC is an anti-corruption agency, it does not play
politics. It exists to serve the public.

“It is a matter that is been ongoing before another judge who
has now been elevated.

“The expectation is that the matter will soon be reassigned to
another judge.

“Just a week ago, the registry of this court sent us a notice
that today has been fixed for the re-arraignment of the defendant.
It was not at the instance of the court.

“You know when a case is transferred to another court, it starts
de Novo.

“Nobody should see what is happening now as an attempt by the
EFCC to intimidate anyone. Let us focus on the matter before the
court. EFCC exists to serve everybody,” Mr Shittu said.

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