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EFCC: How ex-Power Minister Mamman allegedly conspired with others to loot N33bn

Former Minister of Power Sale Mamman

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By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has explained how former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman allegedly looted the sum of N33 billion from government’s coffers while he was in office between 2019 to 2021.

Mamman was detained by the EFCC on May 10, 2021, following his removal from office by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 1, 2021, in a cabinet reshuffle, but later released on administrative bail by the anti graft agency.

However, the former Minister was arraigned 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) before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday.

In the charges filed against him in court, the EFCC explained how Mammam allegedly looted the N33 billion.

In one of the charges, the EFCC accused Mamman of conspiring with officials of Ministry of Power and some private companies to indirectly convert over N33 billion to his personal use, using the accounts of various private companies.

The anti-graft commission said the N33 billion were allegedly stolen from the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government.

EFCC said the action of the former Minister is 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.” 

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Also, Commission in another charge claimed Mammman conspired with one SAMSON BITRUS to make a cash payment of US$655,700:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD (acting through Mohammed Asheik Jidda), without going through a financial institution, 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.”

After the charges were read to Mamman, he pleaded “not guilty” to all the 12 count -charges, prompting the prosecution counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, to ask for a trial date.

Before the arraignment on Thursday, Mamman collapsed within the court premises frustrating the proceedings of the court

The proceeding was postponed till the former Minister regained his balance. His counsel, Femi Ate, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), informed the court of his client’s health issue when the case was called.

Ate requested an adjournment for the arraignment to be rescheduled till September but the judge declined, citing the tight business of the court. Ate subsequently withdrew the oral application for an adjournment.

The Judge inquired if Mamman was fit to proceed with the arraignment and he responded in the affirmative. He also explained that his collapse was due to taking his medication on an empty stomach thereby causing unfavourable reactions in his body.

The defence counsel also complained about an error in the name on the charge served his client, prompting the judge to postpone the arraignment for some hours. At the resumption of proceedings, the prosecution counsel informed the court of an amended charge which had been served on the defence team.

Meanwhile, Ate filed a bail application which the court could not hear before Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Friday, July 12, 2024, to hear the application.