Bala Mohammed, Bauchi State Governor, has responded to the seizure of a multi-million-naira property in Abuja traced to him by ICPC, an anti-graft agency.
Last week, the commission had accused Mr Mohammed of illegally allocating a property belonging to the federal agriculture ministry for his personal use while he was FCT minister.
The ICPC said the property located at Plot 298 Wuye District, Cadastral Zone B3, FCT, Abuja, was subsequently turned into a school; Zinaria International School, in which the governor and family members are directors and shareholders.
The seizure, according to the commission, is in compliance with its powers set out in Section 45(4)(a-c) of the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000.
The Commission has also stated that it will apply to the court for a forfeiture order under section 48 of the ICPC Act, “pending when the tenure of the governor expires.”
But in reaction, Mr Mohammed said on Sunday in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mukhtar Gidado, that he had not breached any law that might have warranted the ICPC to “perniciously scandalize” his image.
He said he had resigned from the school as soon as he was appointed a minister.
The Governor characterized the allegations made by the commission that he took advantage of public office as mischievous, inaccurate and misleading.
Mr Mohammed said the action by the ICPC had been “premised on bare-faced double standards, favouritism, dishonourable tactics and impunity.”
He said the school was in existence prior to becoming FCT minister during former president Goodluck Jonathan ‘s administration.
He said the school was legally granted the property after its shareholders and directors had applied for an extension of their assets.
“We refute the commission’s story in its entirety and state that Senator Bala Mohammed did not flout any policy or break any law, known to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, or did he, in any way, breach his oath of office to warrant perniciously scandalising his name or subjecting members of his family to mindless persecution as the ICPC is willfully pushing,” Mr Gidado said.
“Zinaria International School was established and had been long operational, offering quality education, in a cost-effective manner, to all and sundry, long before Senator Bala Mohammed became Minister of the FCT.
“Like any other corporate entity, due to planned expansion, the school applied for land, a legitimate right it would have exercised, irrespective of whomsoever was the Minister of the FCT at the time.
“The shareholders and directors of the school are Nigerians who, by their respective ages, were qualified to apply for and be allocated land if they met the conditions required.
“And we make bold to say that all the names listed in the MEMAT (Draft Memorandum and Articles of Association) of the school are eminently qualified to be allocated land.”
“Why is the ICPC in a hurry to disrupt the smooth functioning of a public trust that is devoted to learning, if not for the singular purpose of ingratiating itself to its paymasters by causing maximum damage to the family’s investment?
“Is it fair, right or just to deny members of the family of a public office holder their right to the public good, for the simple reason that their benefactor or relation is holding public office?”
From 2010 to 2015 Mr Mohammed served as FCT Minister. Since then, during his time as FCT minister, he has faced various charges of corruption and prosecution for alleged graft.
Last year, the EFCC charged for accepting gratification and acquisition of landed property to the former minister on six-count.
The EFCC said the property is valued at N550 million – located at No 2599 and 2600 Cadastral Zone, AO4 Asokoro District, Abuja, from Aso Savings and Loans Plc in 2014.
Mr Mohammed is also accused of failing to make full disclosure of his property at 54, Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, Abuja, when filing his declaration of assets form at the EFCC.
Similarly, the ICPC had charged him earlier for using his office to confer corrupt advantage on himself and relationships under section 19 of the ICPC laws.