The arraignment of the Bauchi State Governor-elect, Bala Mohammed, before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court on Monday suffered a setback due to the absence of the presiding judge, Yusuf Halilu.
According to the court registrar, the judge was absent due to an engagement at the election tribunal in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
Mr Mohammed, a former minister of the FCT, 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.
A source in the commission disclosed that the Bauchi governor-elect, ‘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.
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“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.”
