Abubakar Kweido, First Prosecuting witness, PW1 in
the trial of a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja before
Justice James Omotosho that he former minister allegedly used funds from
the Mambilla Hydro project's account to purchase Abuja properties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is
prosecuting Mamman 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).
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Kweido, an operative
of the EFCC while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olumide
Fusica, SAN said investigation activities showed that some funds released to
the former minister were used to purchase properties in Kado Estate and Wuse 2,
Abuja.
“We invited and presented the findings of the investigation to
the minister, which he acknowledged and responded to in the presence of his
lawyer. He denied connection to all the alleged properties, stating that one
Maisbahu Idris who was his Personal Assistant usually received money from the
Project Accountant of the Mambilla Hydro project to share with his staff in the
ministry.
“We went ahead to conduct a search in the minister`s house
and we recovered some foreign currencies in cash. We also recovered CAC
documents of Abangus Nig. Ltd whose investigation revealed that the company was
one of the entities used by the minister to facilitate the diversion of funds
from the project account of Mambilla”, he said.
Payment Vouchers for Bangus Nig. Ltd and Exhibit Form for some
cash recovered at his residence were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 23, 2024 for
continuation of trial.
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