A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday discharged and acquitted Shamsudeen Mohammed, son of Bauchi State Governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, of 11 out of 20-count criminal charges preferred against him by the Federal Government.
Shamsudeen is facing trial alongside four firms; Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd, Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd and Bal-Vac Mining Ltd.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had alleged that the four companies were used by Shamsudeen to launder over N1.1 billion.
The EFCC also claimed that Shamsudeen resorted to the acquisition of houses within high brow areas in Abuja which he paid for in cash, to conceal stolen funds at his disposal.
Some of the assets included 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.
However, in a ruling on Tuesday, in a no-case submission filed by the defendant, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba discharged and acquitted Shamsudeen on counts 1 to 10, and 20.
The court said the counts bordered on the allegation that Shamsudeen exceeded the permissible threshold of N5 million in making payments for the acquisition of houses.
On the allegation that the first defendant (Mohammed) bought properties with cash above the stipulated financial threshold, the court noted that there was no single evidence to back this claim.
The court held that the evidence laid by the prosecution witness amounted to hearsay and therefore not tenable in law.
However, Justice Dimgba dismissed the no-case submission in respect of counts 11, 12, 13, 14,15 and 16, which bordered on the failure of Shamsudeen to disclose his assets in the assets declaration form he filled at the EFCC.
On counts 17, 18 and 19, which were predicated forgery, the trial court insisted that the proceeding must continue for the defendant to make explanations.
Consequently, Justice Dimgba fixed February 28, 2022, for the defendant to open defence on counts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19.
Shamsudeen is being prosecuted on an amended 20-count charge filed against him by the EFCC over allegations of conspiracy, money laundering and forgery.
