A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered the son of a former FCT Minister, Bala Muhammed, Shamsudeen Bala to face trial in nine out of 20 count charges over the N1.2bn corruption charges.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba however discharged and acquitted the four companies charged together with Shamsudeen for lack of proof of the ingredients of the offence.
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“The 1st defendant (Bala) is hereby directed to open his defence to counts 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19,” the judge ruled.
Shamsudeen Bala was arraigned in 2016 and on an amended 20-count charge bordering on money laundering and false asset declaration alongside Bird Trust Agro Allied Limited, Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd, Diakin Telecommunications Ltd and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Ltd.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired to make cash payments of hundreds of millions exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution to Sunrise Estate Development Ltd and A&K Constructions Ltd for the purchase of plot nos. 2116 and 2276 at Asokoro Gardens.
