Detainee Bala Mohammed demands release, slams N100m Suit on EFCC

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FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed

Mr Bala Mohammed, the former FCT Minister, has filed a fundamental human right suit before the High Court of Justice against the EFCC for unlawful detention in connection with investigation into an alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office and money laundering charges.

The Minister, who has been in custody for a while and s not been granted bail, is demanding for N100m for special and general damages caused with the detention.

He stated that the EFCC had invited him to their office on October 24, 2016, to which he voluntarily honoured and has been detained since then to date.

Justice Baba Yusuf, whom the case was assigned to, has already fixed November 24 for hearing.

Mohammed stated in a 15-paragraph affidavit, filed in support of his suit, that he has been abandoned in the anti-graft agency’s cell and has suffered emotionally and psychologically

He complained about his health, which has deteriorated since being held in the cell, as well as psychological and mental torture.

In the suit marked FCT/CV/220/2016 filed by his counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), the applicant is praying the court for an order compelling and directing the EFCC to release him on bail forthwith or immediately arraign him before a competent court of law for trial.

He further sought a declaration that he should be released immediately on bail by the EFCC pending further investigations into the alleged cases levelled against him.

The former Minister further asked an order of court enforcing and restoring his fundamental right to personal liberty enshrined and guaranteed by section 35 of the 1999 constitution, which has been violated and is being violated by the respondent.

He was detained by the EFCC in connection with questionable schemes and projects undertaken by him when he held sway as FCT Minister between 2011 and 2015.

The case is said to be a controversial N1 trillion “Land swap programme” under which his administration traded large parcels of public land with some selected private individuals and companies to develop housing projects in FCT.

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