On Thursday, the Federal High Court located in Abuja placed Mr. Saleh Mamman, the former Minister of Power, under detention at Kuje prison. The former minister was placed under remand following his plea of not guilty to the 12-count money laundering accusation brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He should stay in detention until Friday, when his bail application will be considered, according to Trial Judge James Omotosho. Mamman, a former member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet, is on trial for his alleged role in a N33 billion fraud. About four months after ex-President Buhari removed him from office, he was arrested in 2021.
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Among other things, the EFCC claimed that he plotted with ministry employees to steal over N22 billion intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects. The anti-graft agency claimed that the results of its investigations showed the suspects utilized the money to buy high-quality assets both domestically and abroad. The defendant had slumped within the courtroom before to his Thursday arraignment. He needed the assistance of a court-affiliated medical team as well as attorneys to come back to life.
After a while, the sickly-looking defendant appeared in the courtroom and entered the dock with some of his clothes soaked. The trial judge asked the defendant if he had been exposed to rain, without knowing what had happened outside the courtroom. Mamman responded from the dock, stating that water was thrown on him following his collapse. Following the prosecution’s statement to the court that he was also made aware of the circumstance, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, on behalf of his client, Mr. Femi Ate, SAN, corroborated the development.
Mamman’s attorney, Ate, SAN, described the events as follows: “My lord, upon being brought into the court premises, the defendant collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the Federal High Court medical personnel.” He added that he had already discussed a postponing the arraignment with the attorney for the EFCC, but his client was issued a copy of the accusation against him after being revived. The prosecution’s attorney informed the court that the charge that was served to the defendant had been modified. According to him, the change was made to fix a mistake in the defendant’s name. The court was requested by Olumide-Fusika, SAN, to force the defendant to enter a plea to the allegation.
After hearing both parties out, Justice Omotosho stated that due to the court’s overwhelming workload, he could only postpone the case until September. In accordance with the court’s ruling, Ake retracted his verbal request for a postponement. In addition, the defendant assured the court that he was well enough to enter a plea and disclosed that the reason for his collapse was a prescription he took without any food. Following an hour or so of standing the matter down, the court reconvened and heard the defendant’s plea.
