Bala Mohammed

Bala Mohammed (born 5 October 1958) is Nigerian politician who is the Governor of Bauchi State. He was also Minister of Federal Capital Territory from 2010 to 2015;[1] and a Senator from Bauchi State between 2007 to 2010. He is a leading member of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP).[2]

Kauran Bauchi Bala Mohammed
Governor of Bauchi State
Incumbent
Assumed office 29 May 2019
Preceded by	Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar
Minister of Federal Capital Territory
In office 8 April 2010 – 29 May 2015
Preceded by	Adamu Aliero
Succeeded by	Mohammed Musa Bello
Senator of the Federal Republic
In office 8 April 2007 – 8 April 2010
Preceded by	Abubakar Maikafi
Succeeded by	Adamu Gumba
Constituency	Bauchi South Senatorial District
Personal details
Born	(1958-10-05) 5 October 1958 Alkaleri, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Alkaleri, Nigeria)
Political party	People's Democratic Party

Background

Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed was born on 5 October 1958 in Alkaleri. He attended University of Maiduguri (1979–1982), where he received a bachelors degree in English.[1] In 1983, he joined The Democrat as a reporter, then joined the civil service as an administrative officer from 1984–2000.[3]

He worked in several Federal Ministries including: Internal Affairs, Solid Minerals, Power and Steel and Transportation and Aviation. He retired as Director of Administration in the Nigerian Meteorological Agency. He then served as a senior special assistant to Governor Isa Yuguda from 2000 to 2005.[4] He was Director of Administration at the Nigerian Railway Corporation from 2005 to 2007.[3]

Senator

In April 2007, Mohammed was elected to the Senate representing Bauchi South Senatorial District under the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP).[1] In March 2010, he accused Yuguda of being behind a move to recall him from the Senate.[5] Mohammed was one of the first senators to support the controversial doctrine of necessity, which appointed then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan as acting president to replace incapacitated Umaru Yar'Adua.[1]

Politics

He reportedly fell out with political godfather Governor Isa Yuguda after Yuguda married President Umaru Yar'Adua's daughter and decamped to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).[6] Following the death of Umaru Yar'Adua, Mohammed joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and became a close associate of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory

In 2010, he was appointed Minister of Federal Capital Territory and became a member of President Goodluck Jonathan's kitchen cabinet, serving in office until 2015.[1] Kaura was alleged to have involved in extensive bribery and land racketeering.[7] The successive FCT administration met depleted coffers.[8]

Corruption

Shortly after leaving office, a vehicle belonging to Mohammed was found stacked with "billions of cash", which was claimed by his son.[9] In 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested Mohammed for financial crimes worth over N1.3 trillion,[10] in FCT land racketeering and alleged role in the $2 billion arms deal.[7] After becoming Governor of Bauchi in 2019, his corruption trial was suspended due to "constitutional provision that accords absolute immunity from criminal prosecution to an elected governor", making many believe he became governor in order to avoid prosecution.[11] In 2020, Governor Bala Mohammed awarded a contract worth N3.6 billion to his own company.[12]

Governor of Bauchi State

In 2018, Mohammed emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate for Bauchi State.[13] On 26 March 2019, Bala Mohammed received 515,113 votes defeating the incumbent Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who received 500,625 votes.

On 29 May 2019, he was sworn in as Governor of Bauchi State at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi. His election was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

References

1. "Ministers - the Profiles (ii)". ThisDay. 8 April 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
2. "PDP candidate, Bala Mohammed, defeats Bauchi governor". Punch NG. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
3. "Sen. Bala A. Mohammed". National Assembly of Nigeria. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
4. "Federal Govt is Marginalising North East - Sen Bala Mohammed". Leadership. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
5. Turaki A. Hassan (21 March 2010). "Yuguda behind my recall move – Sen Moh'd". media Daily Trust. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
6. Godwin Ijediogor and Samson Ezea (2010-04-02). "Ministerial List: A Taste Of Old Wine In New Bottle?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
7. Ogundipe, Samuel (2016-10-24). "Ex-Abuja Minister, Bala Mohammed, Arrested | Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2020-07-05.
8. Nairametrics (2015-06-12). "[ANALYSIS] Why Buhari has a limited time to borrow cheap". Nairametrics. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
9. Herald, Desert. "EXCLUSIVE: How we saw billions in Bala Muhammad's Jeep – Anonymous". Retrieved 2020-07-05.
10. Ogundipe, Samuel (2016-11-04). "Former Abuja Minister may have "squandered over a trillion naira" -- Officials | Premium Times Nigeria". Retrieved 2020-07-05.
11. Ogundipe, Samuel (2019-03-28). "After emerging governor-elect, EFCC to suspend multi-billion naira corruption trial of PDP's Bala Mohammed for four years". Retrieved 2020-07-05.
12. "EXCLUSIVE: Bauchi Gov. Bala Mohammed awards N3.6 billion contract to own company". 2020-02-22. Retrieved 2020-07-05.
13. "Ex-FCT minister Bala Mohammed emerges Bauchi PDP guber candidate". 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2020-07-05.