EFCC Fires Back At Bala Mohammed Over Persecution Claims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, yesterday, rejected as mischievous and unacceptable the allegations made by Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that the agency was being used by political rivals, especially the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to persecute him and his associates.

The Commission stated that the accusations were as wild as they were far-fetched.

The EFCC, in a statement, stressed that as an independent institution established to combat economic and financial crimes, it remains “non-partisan and discharges its mandate without affection or ill will.”

Mohammed had alleged that there was a deliberate plan by certain political figures to damage his image and destroy his reputation.

He specifically identified the FCT Minister, Wike, as the person behind efforts to link him with banditry and destabilise the state.

He said: “There are people behind it, and I know, and I'm going to mention them today. Somebody said he's going to put fire in my state, FCT Minister Wike.

“A rising politician, a leader of the opposition, to be accused of terrorism, it's very painful. One of my nephews was mentioned in the corruption charge, and there was nothing like that, nothing.

“I have written to the Attorney General of the Federation. I've copied all the agencies, and I'm going to escalate it to the international community, asking for protection because this is victimisation, protection of my fundamental human rights.”

However, the EFCC stated yesterday that it was derogatory for Mohammed to attribute its operations in Bauchi State to the influence of Mr Wike.

It's words: “It is important to state that no political office holder is in a position to influence the investigative activities of the Commission. If Bala Mohammed wants to be honest, he would have revealed to Nigerians that he was standing trial for money laundering at the time he won election as governor of Bauchi State. Only the constitutional Immunity from prosecution, which his current office attracts, has put that case in abeyance. Who also influenced the Commission to investigate him in 2016 and charge him to court?

“In the instant case, the facts against some officials of the Bauchi State government are already placed before the court. Members of the public can access the charges and decide for themselves whether the case is borne out of vendetta or is a product of painstaking investigation by the EFCC. They will also understand why Bala Mohammed, as the approving authority in Bauchi State, is mentioned in the charge.

“Crying wolf over issues of terrorism financing is like clutching at straws. The Commission did not invent the law, and where there are offences punishable by extant laws, the EFCC will be failing in its responsibility to do otherwise.

“Public accountability should be the priority of politicians of all persuasions. It is the height of hypocrisy for opposition politicians to be quick to scream persecution each time an opposition figure is called to account, but are mute when a member of the ruling party faces the same ordeal. Recently, the Commission arraigned a ranking member of the ruling party in court for alleged corruption, and not a whimper of persecution was heard from any of the political divide.

“Governor Mohammed should face the governance of Bauchi State and allow the EFCC to focus more on cleaning the financial space of the nation, in line with its assigned mandate.”

Before becoming governor, Mohammed had earlier been arrested and questioned in 2016 by the EFCC over alleged corruption committed during his tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

He was later charged in May 2017 before Justice A. M. Talba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Gudu, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on abuse of office, false declaration of assets, and fraud amounting to N864 million.

Mohammed was alleged, while serving as minister, to have received N550 million as a bribe from Aso Savings and Loans Limited in connection with certain properties located in the Asokoro area of Abuja.

He was also said to have unlawfully exploited his position as board chairman of Aso Savings by allocating to himself four fully detached duplexes and 11 semi-detached duplexes valued at N314 million through the Presidential Taskforce on Sale of Government Houses.

The former minister was further accused of making false asset declarations.

Count one of the charge read:

“That you, Bala A. Mohammed, while being the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, sometime in 2014 in Abuja within the Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did accept gratification of a house worth N550, 000,000 (Five Hundred and Fifty Million Naira) only situated at No. 2599 & 2600 Cadastral Zone A04 Asokoro District, Abuja, from Aso Savings & Loans Plc as reward for performing your official duties and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 18 (d) of the same Act.”

The defendant entered a plea of not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, Ben Ikani, counsel to the EFCC, requested the court to set a date for trial and to remand the defendant in prison custody.

However, Bala’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court of an existing bail application dated May 5, 2017, and appealed to the court to grant the request.

Justice Talba ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of the bail application, and adjourned proceedings to May 12 for ruling on the application.