By The New Diplomat Political Desk
All is set for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, before the Federal High Court Abuja, today Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The former minister will be arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged N33 billion money laundering before Justice James Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mamman will face trial on allegations bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering and possession and use of known proceeds of criminal conduct.
According to the charge sheet, the anti-graft agency accused the former power minister of conspiring with other officials of his ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert N33.8bn of funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government.
The EFCC said the offence was 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.
Part of the 12-count charge reads: “That you, Saleh Mamman (male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this court, whilst you were the Minister of Power, conspired with other officials of your ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N=33,804,830,503.73 through various private companies which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust about the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
In count two, Mamman was said to have conspired with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of $655,700 to Mohiba Investment Limited without going through the bank.
It would be recalled that Mamman served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021.
On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
Buhari had September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was termed a cabinet reshuffle
