The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman,
continued on Thursday, April 10, 2025, before Justice James Omotosho of the
Federal High Court, Abuja, with the prosecution presenting further evidence
in a trial-within-trial to justify the admissibility of the
extra-judicial statements of the defendant, who claimed
that he volunteered them under duress.
Mamman is facing prosecution in relation to
the Mambilla Power Project by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC on a 12-count charge, bordering on conspiracy to commit
money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight
Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and
Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi
Oyedepo, SAN, Abubakar Muhammed Kwaido an EFCC investigator
maintained that Mamman made his statements to the Commission
without intimidation or force. “There was at no point I harassed
or intimidated him with detention. My boss was even asking him if he could
write, but he said he would ask his lawyer to write on his behalf,” he
said.
In a video clip of Mamman’s statement to the
Commission which was played in court, the defendant was seen clarifying to
investigators in a convivial atmosphere that he chose to avoid
payment for an Abuja property through financial institutions to evade
detection, considering his position in the government.
“Honestly, I gave him N5million about three
times. I didn’t transfer or put it in his account. I gave him cash. Why I
didn’t do a transfer was because I am a civil servant and I have left my
business and some of my things, so I have been very careful,” he said.
He further disclosed that the payments
were made to Abubakar Mustapha Bida in relation to a house
he acquired through him. Bida is the Mambilla
Project Accountant. “After the payment, he then gave me the house, that is why
I didn’t bring up that issue. Then I accepted the house at Kado,” he said.
Mamman was also seen in the clip narrating
how he discussed the property with one Sam. “I said to Sam that there’s a
house in Kado, but I have to collect the documents of the house. That’s why I
told you that there’s no issue between me and him.”
He was also seen claiming that he jointly
purchased another property in Wuse, Abuja with a friend who is a member of
the House of Representatives, who chose to register the house with a different
name. “We went together and bought the house in Wuse. It was me and my friend
that joined and bought the house, but he gave another person's name instead of
his. Now I’m even struggling to get the papers for the house,” he said.
Speaking further in the clip, he said, “We bought
the house from N30 to N35 million and we agreed I will be giving him
the money in tranches. Things became somehow and I then left the
office. He didn’t give me the papers and that’s how I left office.”
Mamman in the video, repeatedly accused
Abubakar Mustapha Bida of dishonesty. “Mustapha is a liar. It was his
PA that did all these things,” he said, referring to one Musbahu Idris.
Nonetheless, he admitted benefitting from the transaction. “Whether I like it
or not, I benefitted, because my people have benefited from the money. That was
why I was all involved in it,” he said.
In the video, he was also seen explaining to Kwaido
that his lawyer has his nod to write his statements on his behalf because he
was a bit under the weather. Asked by Kwaido if he could write, he replied:
“Honestly I can’t write, I’m not too strong, but as you can see, I’m about to
take my medication. That’s why I spoke to him to write because I don’t want to
stress myself. The doctors warned me not to stress myself. I was advised by my
lawyer to come so that it will all be easy,” he said.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Monday,
April 14, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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