N33.8bn fraud: Ex-power minister remanded despite collapsing in court

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has remanded former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, in Kuje Correctional Facility, pending the hearing of his bail application.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mamman on Thursday, on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering up to N33.8 billion.

Mamman was appointed minister by ex-president Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. He was sacked in September 2021, in a cabinte reshuffle.

In May 2023, he was arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N22 billion fraud.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Mamman conspired with officials at the ministry of power and some private companies to “indirectly convert” N33.8 billion, which was meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.

The EFCC further alleged that Mamman was aided by one Samson Bitrus, to make a cash payment of $655,700 without going through a financial institution.

However, the former minister pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After the plea, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel to the EFCC, sought the date for the commencement of the trial.

Femi Ate, counsel to the former minister, informed the court that his client had submitted his bail application.

Olumide-Fusika responded that he was served with the bail application around 12:30pm on the day of the trial.

Afterwards, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to allow the bail application hearing the next day, a request the EFCC counsel did not oppose.

In his ruling, James Omotosho, the trial judge, adjourned the bail application to Friday.

Meanwhile, before the court proceedings started, Mamman was said to have collapsed outside the courtroom.

The counsel to the former minister informed the judge that his client had fainted due to ill health.

When the hearing resumed, the ex-minister entered the courtroom and the dock while his clothes were partly drenched.

The judge then asked Mamman why he was sweating or whether it was raining.

The former minister said water had been poured on him. He told the presiding judge that he collapsed outside the courtroom due to the effects of some drugs administered to him without food.

He added that while waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.

Mamman said he could take his plea after being asked by the judge if he was fit enough.

The judge, however, asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea, and he responded in the affirmative.

His counsel asked the court to allow him to return the next day to argue the bail application.