Arrested Nigeria's ex-minister, Bala Mohammed, has been granted bail

According to Premium Times, an Abuja High Court on Tuesday granted bail to a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed. Mr. Mohammed was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 24, on allegations of fraud.

He remained in the custody of the commission despite an earlier administrative bail granted him by the EFCC.

Justice Hussein Yusuf had on November 25 adjourned hearing of an application for Mr. Mohammed’s bail.

The former minister’s lawyer, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said on Tuesday that the court granted the application.

“The bail was granted this afternoon, with the same conditions in the administrative bail. He is expected to produce two sureties; who must be of the directorate cadre in the Nigerian Civil Service.

“They are also expected to have landed properties in Abuja,” said Mr. Uche.

Efforts to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, to confirm the bail and whether the commission would release Mr. Mohammed once the conditions are met, were unsuccessful. His telephone line was switched off.

Mr. Mohammed was Abuja minister in the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sources in the EFCC had told PREMIUM TIMES that the commission is investigation several petitions accusing the former minister of hundreds of billions of naira land fraud while in office.