The former Minister of Federal Capital Abuja (FCT), who is now governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bauchi State, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad Bala, said that he reported voluntarily to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) because of his believe in accountability.
Bala disclosed this in Bauchi, while explaining how he won his case against the EFCC.
His words: “I reported myself voluntarily to the EFCC because I believe in accountability. I was in Europe for a programme in Oxford when I was told that EFCC wanted me.
“When I came I saw the invitation. I thought it was a routine issue. I reported and I was arrested. I tried as much as possible, they gave me bail condition. I satisfied them even after I satisfied the bail condition, I was kept for 45 days.
“I took them to court because I expected them to take me to court, they didn’t. Of course, the court issued a directives and order for me to be released. I was not released; that was what took me to 45 days. So the court was not happy and the same court I charged them. And of course I won the case against them with five million damages award.”
He explained that he did nothing wrong when he was a minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Bala said, “I am very happy with the judgement because it shows that there is hope in this country no matter the level of persecution, the level of vilification; we still have hope as Nigerians because the last resort is the judiciary, which has remained firm and impartial, to a large extent that what has emboldened me to remain in the country and to play my politics.
“Because I know I have not done anything, and of course the other cases in court I don’t want to pre-empts it, but you have heard the confirmation from the EFCC that there was not a report from the ministry of the FCT by any individual, by any group, by civil society group that any amount of money is stolen in the FCT or there is something somewhere fishy about me.
“What led to the investigation about me and whatever was raised against me was supposedly the intelligence and we don’t know what that intelligent means.”
He also said, “I am a law-abiding person. I believe in accountability and I am ready to account for whatever they are charging me. Most of the charges are there; we are taking them one by one and of course at the end of the day I am very hopeful that with this hope and trust in God and having known that I have not done anything other than adding the value of services and infrastructure in the FCT, I will be vindicated.”
On peace accord signed by the all Governorship candidates in Bauchi State at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bala commended the initiativs and asked for justice and equity from the security agencies and the electoral body to be fair and just to all; at least if they want to achieve peace and successful free and fair election.
He faulted the Police for participating in removing the posters of the opposition parties through arrest and even beating people and advised them to provide a level playing ground for all.
The PDP governorship candidate, however, pledged to rescued the Bauchi State from ills of decay in all sectors and make a difference through laudable programmes that would develop the state and restore its lost glory.
