EFCC arrests Abati, Bala Mohammed

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9 years ago

THE immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed and the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati, were, on Monday, arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former minister, Nigerian Tribune gathered, was arrested over alleged land racketeering, abuse of office and huge sums of money said to have been traced to his account and that of his son.

A reliable source in the anti-corruption agency confirmed the arrest of Kauran Bauchi, as Mohammed is fondly called by his admirers, saying, however, that he could not immediately confirm the offence over which he was arrested.

Another source in the commission confirmed the arrest of the former presidential spokesman, Dr Abati, informing that he was arrested over issues related to the 2015 presidential election funds.

Report had indicated that EFCC seized four houses worth N872 million from the former minister and his first son, Shamsudeen.

It was gathered that the commission had been investigation the former minister based on petitions before it since 2013.

He is being investigated for allegedly allocating choice plots of land worth billions of Naira and about 37 commercial plots of land said to worth about N8 billion to one Tariq Hammoud, who was alleged to be fronting for him.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that in a bid to get to the roots of the allegations levelled against the former minister, the anti-corruption commission had interrogated some individuals, including top officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The former minister’s first son, Shamsudeen, was said to have been invited and quizzed by operatives of the anti-graft commission and granted administrative bail.

Also, his alleged front, Hammoud, had been grilled by EFCC operatives.