ABUJA—A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, yesterday, remanded the son of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Shamsudeen Bala, in prison custody over his alleged involvement in money laundering. Trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba remanded the defendant at Kuje prison after he was docked on a 15-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The defendant who pleaded not guilty to the charge will remain in prison till Friday when his request for bail will be considered. Shamsudeen is facing trial alongside four firms- Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd, Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd and Bal-Vac Mining Ltd, which the anti-graft agency said were used to launder over N1.1billion. EFCC alleged that the 1st defendant, in a bid to conceal stolen funds at his disposal, resorted to acquisition of houses within the highbrow 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. Some of the charges against the defendants read: “That you, Shamsudeen Bala, Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, sometime in 2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did, without going through a financial institution, make cash payment of N200m to A&K Constructions Limited, Abuja, and Sunrise Estate Development Limited for Construction of a house on Plot nos 2116 and 2276 at Asokoro Gardens (alias Sunrise Estate), Abuja, which exceeded the statutory limit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) and (4) of the same Act. Though Justice Dimgba adjourned his ruling on the application till Friday, he however, slated March 27 and 28 for the commencement of trial. “That you, Shamsudeen Bala, sometime in 2015, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did, without going through a financial institution, make cash payment of the sum of N200,000,000 only to Faruk Saleh at Abuja as payment for the purchase of House 2A, No 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja, which exceeded the statutory limit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No 1of 2012) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) and (4) of the same Act.” The defendant had through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, begged the court to release him on bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge against him. EFCC lawyer, Mr. Ben Ikani, opposed the plea for bail. The prosecution counsel said there was intelligence that the defendant would escape from the country if released on bail.
by ROTMANLUV 2023-07-08, 17:34
