Arms Deal: Ex PDP Chair, Son Get N300m Bail

Justice A. R Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, January 7, 2016 granted bail to a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, and ex-minister of defence, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed and his son, Bello Abba Mohammed who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a 4-count charge bordering on criminal breach of

trust and money laundering.

Mohammed, and his son, Abba, are being prosecuted by the anti graft agency for their alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms through the office of the National

One of the charges reads:

“That you Bello Abba Mohammed, Bam Projects and Properties Limited and Dr. Bello H. Mohammed on or about the 17th of March 2015 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court took possession of the sum of N300,000,000 (Three Hundred Million Naira) paid into the account of Bam Projects and Properties Limited with Sterling Bank Plc from the account of the office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceed of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd); the then National Security Adviser (to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act”.

Both defendants who were arraigned on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 pleaded not guilty to charge preferred against them and consequently sought bail through their counsel; an application which was countered by the prosecuting counsel.

Ruling on the application today, Justice Mohammed admitted Bello Abba Ahmed (1st defendant) to bail in the sum of N300million and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a civil servant in the Federal Civil Service not below grade level 12 and the second surety must have landed property and title documents worth N300million. The sureties must deposit their international passports with the court registrar.

In a similar vein, the ex-PDP boss, Haliru Mohammed (third defendant) was admitted to bail in the sum of N300m and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a Director in the federal civil service and the second surety must have landed property within Abuja with the original title documents deposited in court. The sureties shall deposit their international passports along with two recent passport photographs with the court registrar.

While the first defendant, Abba Mohammed is to remain in Kuje Prisons, the third defendant, Haliru Mohammed is to remain in “Abuja Clinics” and under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police until their bail conditions are met.

The case has been adjourned to February 16, 2016 for commencement of trial.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

7th January, 2016