Ex-Minister Mamman used funds from Mambilla project to purchase properties – Witness
Saleh Mamman: Ex-Minister of Powe
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman used funds allegedly stolen from the Mambilla Hydro project’s account to purchase properties in Wuse and Kado areas of Abuja, Abubakar Kweido, an operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC told court yesterday.
Kweido, was the first prosecution witness in the prosecution of Mamman by the 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).
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Kweido, while being led in evidence before Justice James Omotosho 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.
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“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.
