Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of a former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Thursday, told the Federal High
Court in Abuja that he has no case to answer in the 15-count money
laundering charge.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Mr Shamsudeen, through his lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice
Nnamdi Dimgba that the evidence of the prosecution against him was
insufficient to prove the case.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
“My lord, this matter was adjourned for defence, the prosecution
having closed his case in the last adjournment.
“Having comprehensively reviewed the totality of all the
evidence of witnesses called by the prosecution, we have decided to
make a no-case submission.
“We seek the leave of the court to file a no-case submission and
serve same on the prosecution and for us to, if possible, adopt
same on the adjourned date,” he said.
Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter until April 26 for the
hearing of the no-case submission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shamsudeen was, on
May 30, 2017, rearranged by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on 15-count money laundering charge.
The defendant, who was initially docked before the court on
February 1, 2017, took fresh plea before Justice Dimgba.
Mr Shamsudeen, whose father is presently the Governor of Bauchi
State, is facing trial alongside four firms; Bird Trust Agro Allied
Ltd, Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd
and Bal-Vac Mining Ltd.
The EFCC alleged that the four companies were used to launder
over N1.1 billion.
The agency alleged that the Shamsudeen, in a bid to conceal
stolen funds at his disposal, resorted to acquisition of houses
within the high-brow areas in Abuja.
It told the court that Shamsudeen paid cash for five plots of
land and four other choice property in Abuja.
Some of the assets traced to him include five plots of land at
Asokoro Gardens; House FS 2 B, Green Acre Estate Apo-Dutse, Abuja;
House FS 1A, Green Acre Estate, Apo-Dutse; FS 1B, Green Acre
Estate, Apo-Dutse, Abuja and House 2A, No. 7, Gana Street, Maitama,
Abuja.
According to the agency, the 1st defendant whose father, Bala
Mohammed, is equally facing six-count criminal charge before an
Abuja High Court, paid for the assets in excess of the statutory
limit, without recourse to any financial institution.
Aside allegation that he failed to declare his assets when he
completed the EFCC Asset Declaration Form A, the ex-Minister’s son
was further accused of concealing four accounts he operated with
Standard Chartered Bank.
EFCC gave the said account numbers as 0001857597, 5001214708,
0000895037 and 000895020.
The agency had earlier seized some property it traced to the
defendant and his father who is under investigation over an alleged
fraudulent N1 trillion land swap deal that took place between 2010
and 2015 while he was in office as FCT Minister.
Meanwhile, Mr Shamsudeen pleaded not guilty to the amended
charge dated May 25, 2017, even as his lawyer, Mr Uche, applied for
continuation of the N100 million bail he had earlier secured from
the court. NAN
Shamsudeen Bala Mohammed, son of a former Minister of the
Federal Capital Territory, FCT, on Thursday, told the Federal High
Court in Abuja that he has no case to answer in the 15-count money
laundering charge.
Mr Shamsudeen, through his lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice
Nnamdi Dimgba that the evidence of the prosecution against him was
insufficient to prove the case.
“My lord, this matter was adjourned for defence, the prosecution
having closed his case in the last adjournment.
“Having comprehensively reviewed the totality of all the
evidence of witnesses called by the prosecution, we have decided to
make a no-case submission.
“We seek the leave of the court to file a no-case submission and
serve same on the prosecution and for us to, if possible, adopt
same on the adjourned date,” he said.
Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter until April 26 for the
hearing of the no-case submission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shamsudeen was, on
May 30, 2017, rearranged by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on 15-count money laundering charge.
The defendant, who was initially docked before the court on
February 1, 2017, took fresh plea before Justice Dimgba.
Mr Shamsudeen, whose father is presently the Governor of Bauchi
State, is facing trial alongside four firms; Bird Trust Agro Allied
Ltd, Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd
and Bal-Vac Mining Ltd.
The EFCC alleged that the four companies were used to launder
over N1.1 billion.
The agency alleged that the Shamsudeen, in a bid to conceal
stolen funds at his disposal, resorted to acquisition of houses
within the high-brow areas in Abuja.
It told the court that Shamsudeen paid cash for five plots of
land and four other choice property in Abuja.
Some of the assets traced to him include five plots of land at
Asokoro Gardens; House FS 2 B, Green Acre Estate Apo-Dutse, Abuja;
House FS 1A, Green Acre Estate, Apo-Dutse; FS 1B, Green Acre
Estate, Apo-Dutse, Abuja and House 2A, No. 7, Gana Street, Maitama,
Abuja.
According to the agency, the 1st defendant whose father, Bala
Mohammed, is equally facing six-count criminal charge before an
Abuja High Court, paid for the assets in excess of the statutory
limit, without recourse to any financial institution.
Aside allegation that he failed to declare his assets when he
completed the EFCC Asset Declaration Form A, the ex-Minister’s son
was further accused of concealing four accounts he operated with
Standard Chartered Bank.
EFCC gave the said account numbers as 0001857597, 5001214708,
0000895037 and 000895020.
The agency had earlier seized some property it traced to the
defendant and his father who is under investigation over an alleged
fraudulent N1 trillion land swap deal that took place between 2010
and 2015 while he was in office as FCT Minister.
Meanwhile, Mr Shamsudeen pleaded not guilty to the amended
charge dated May 25, 2017, even as his lawyer, Mr Uche, applied for
continuation of the N100 million bail he had earlier secured from
the court. NAN