By Kolawole Ojebisi
There was a dramatic twist to the trial of Saleh Mamman, the former minister of power as proceedings resumed on Thursday before the Abuja federal high court.
Mamman faces a 12-count charge over alleged money laundering related to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The EFCC is prosecuting him over alleged conspiracy to launder N33.8 billion. At the court session, Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel, called an EFCC investigator, Abubakar Kwaido, to give evidence.
In his testimony, Kwaido said: “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,” Kwaido told the court.
A video of Mamman’s statement, played in court, showed him in a calm setting, explaining that he paid N5 million in cash on three occasions to avoid bank transfers that might raise suspicion due to his role as a civil servant.
The payments were allegedly made for a house in Kado, Abuja, bought through Abubakar Bida, the Mambilla project accountant.
“Honestly, I gave him N5 million about three times. I didn’t transfer or put it in his account. I gave him cash,” the former minister said in the video.
“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.”
Mamman also mentioned discussing it with a man named 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 said.
In the clip, Mamman described buying another house in Wuse district of Abuja, through a friend from the house of representatives, who used a different name for it.
“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.
“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 repeatedly called Bida dishonest in the video.
“Mustapha is a liar. It was his PA that did all these things,” he said, naming Musbahu Idris.
Still, he admitted gaining from it. “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.
He also confirmed asking his lawyer to write for him due to health issues.
“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,” he told Kwaido in the video clip.
“The doctors warned me not to stress myself. I was advised by my lawyer to come so that it will all be easy.”
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to 14 April for the continuation of the trial.
