Ex-PDP chairman Mohammed paralyzed, says counsel

Duncan David Oluohu, counsel for former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Bello Mohammed, has stated that the former party chairman can no longer walk due to paralysis.

Oluohu made the announcement Tuesday at the resumption of the hearing in the alleged N300m fraud case brought against him, his late son, Abba Mohammed and a company, Bam Projects and Property Ltd, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Earlier in January 2016, the EFCC had charged the three with allegedly receiving N300 million from the former office of the National Security Adviser, under retired Colonel Sambo Dasuki, for the PDP’s 2015 campaigns.

On Tuesday, when the case was called, Akeem Bakare, appearing for the second defendant (Bam Projects and Property Ltd), told the court that although the case was scheduled for further trial, the first defendant had died.

Bakare said Abba’s death, which occurred on January 6, had further worsened the health of the deceased’s father, adding that a copy of the death certificate had been presented to the prosecutor.

On the situation, Oluohu further disclosed that the third defendant Haliru Mohammed suffered a stroke as a result of the death of his son.

He said: ‘He is currently paralyzed and cannot walk. That is why he is not in court today.”

The Prosecutor, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, confirmed the development regarding the first defendant, adding that the defense had provided him with a photocopy of the death certificate of the first defendant shortly before the start of the trial.

He pleaded with the court to remove Abba’s name from the indictment and postpone the indictment to a later date to continue the trial of the remaining defendants.

After this, the judge, Judge Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the continuation of the trial until March 28.