The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on Thursday, July 11, 2024, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. Mamman faces a 12-count charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion.
One of the charges against Mamman states: “That you, SALEH KWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, whilst you were the Minister of Power, conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N33,804,830,503.73 through various private companies, which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Another charge states: “That you, SALEH KWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), sometime in December 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, conspired with SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$655,700 to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, and that you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Mamman pleaded “not guilty” to all 12 charges, leading the prosecution counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, to request a trial date. Proceedings were delayed when Mamman collapsed in court, attributed to taking medication on an empty stomach. His counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, informed the court of Mamman’s health issues and initially sought an adjournment until September, which the judge denied.
The arraignment was temporarily postponed due to an error in the name on the charge. Upon resumption, the prosecution presented an amended charge, and Ate filed a bail application. Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to Friday, July 12, 2024, for the bail hearing.
Mamman served as Minister of Power from 2019 to 2021 and was detained by the EFCC following his removal from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 1, 2021, during a cabinet reshuffle.
