UPDATED: Court sends ex-Minister to prison over alleged N33.804bn fraud
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the consideration of his bail applicantion.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Thursday after Mamman was arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering offences.
The ex-Minister is alleged , in the amended charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024 to have laundered over N33.804billion and acquired property, through proxies.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following which the prosecuting lawyer, Olumide Fusika (SAN) sought a date for the commencement of trial.
Lawyer to the defendant, Femi Ate (SAN) said he filed a bail applicantion shortly before the court resumed sitiing.
Although Fusika admitted being served with the bail application around 12:30pm, Justice Omotosho noted that the application was not yet in the court’s file.
In reaction, Ate prayed to be allowed to return the next day to argue the bail application, which request Fusika did not oppose.
The judge then adjourned till Friday for the hearing of the bail applicantion and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje correctional center.
The defendant, who his lawyer said is ill, looked dejected while stepping off the dock, shortly after the judge’s pronouncement.
Dressed in brown kaftan and a cap, Mamman was subsequently led out of the courtroom by prison officials.
His arraignment earlier scheduled to hold in the morning on Thursday was rescheduled to 1pm upon information that the defendant was indisposed and collapsed outside the courtroom.
His lawyer made this development known at the first mention of the case, following which the judge halted proceedings.
Read Also: BREAKING: Alleged 33.8b fraud: Court sends ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman to prison
When the case was again, called, the ex-Minister walked into the courtroom and later into the dock.
The upper part of his clothe was wet, prompting the judge to asked if he was sweating or whether it was raining outside.
Responding, Mamman said water was poured on him when he collapsed.
Fusika then intervened. He said although the case was for arraignment, he learnt there was a development outside the courtroom.
The prosecuting lawyer said he had discussion with the defence lawyer outside the courtroom concerning the defendant’s state of health.
Fusika added: “I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learner senior advocate to tell the honourable court himself.”
Ate told the court that, his client, on being brought into the premises of the court collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.
He added that the ex-Minister was served with the charge after he was resuscitated.
Ate said he sought Fusika’s understanding for an adjournment so that the arraignment could be done on Monday when his client would have been better.
Justice Omotosho noted that if the matter is adjourned , the arraignment would only be possible in September in view of the court’s workload.
Ate subsequently withdrew request for adjournment, following which Fusika introduced his amended charge and sought to have it ready to the defendant.
Justice Omotosho then, turned to the defendant and asked him if he was fit enough to take his plea, to which Mamman said yes.
The defendant then told the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took.
He said he did not eat before taking the drugs, adding that while he was outside the courtroom, waiting to be called in, his blood pressure dropped, which accounted for what happens.
Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
“It can happen to any one,” the judge noted and suspended proceedings to enable the prosecution amended the initial charge sheet where the defendant was wrongly identified.
The proceedings later resumed around after 1pm.
In the amended charge, the defendant is also accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
