Bauchi Gov-Elect, Bala Mohammed, To Stand Trial Over False Declaration Of Assets

Barely a month to his inauguration, Former FCT Minister and governor-elect of Bauch state, Bala Mohammed, is set to be arraigned by the EFCC on a fresh six-count charge bordering on alleged failure to declare his assets and false information. He will be arraigned in Court 26 at the FCT High Court, Maitama in Abuja today April 29th.

Mohammed who contested the March 9th governorship election on the platform of the PDP, was declared the winner of the 2019 Bauchi State governorship election after defeating Mohammed Abubakar, the incumbent Governor of the state, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The charge read in part

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

Bala who has since been on trial for alleged misappropriation of funds while he was a Minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, has repeatedly said that his trial is a political witchhunt.