By Abiola Olawale
Mohammed Ashelk Jidda, the 14th prosecution witness who appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday has revealed how a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, allegedly purchased a five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja, for the dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash.
The revelation came during Mamman’s ongoing trial on a 12-count charge of money laundering involving N33.8 billion, linked to the Mambilla Power Project.
Jidda, the original owner of the property located at No. 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2, testified before Justice James Omotosho.
He recounted how Mamman personally delivered the cash payment to his office on Gimbya Street, Garki, Abuja.
“The minister came to my office with Mohammed Hussein and two other persons to pay me the money. We had discussed that they would bring naira, but they arrived with dollars. We counted the money and handed over the property,” Jidda told the court.
He added that the transaction documents were signed between his company, Mohibat Investment Limited, and Mohammed Hussein, as directed by Mamman.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the case, presented additional testimony from Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent who facilitated the purchase.
Bitrus corroborated Jidda’s account, stating, “The purchase price was N200 million, and the defendant paid in dollars. The property owner received the money and counted it to confirm it was complete.”
Bitrus further revealed that he managed the property for Mamman post-purchase, collecting rent and transferring it to accounts provided by the former minister.
Another witness, Umar Abbatilde, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, provided financial evidence linking the transaction to Mamman.
He detailed inflows into Bitrus’s account, including N5.5 million from Firststar Limited on June 26, 2020, followed by an immediate outflow to an account tied to Mamman.
It would be recalled that the former minister is facing a 12-count amended money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC, amounting to N33 billion.
Mamman had pleaded not guilty to the charges upon his arraignment before the court.
It would be recalled also that former President Muhammadu Buhari relieved Mamman of his position in 2021, paving the way for an independent and critical review of his performance.
Three years later, the EFCC arraigned him on Thursday, July 11, 2024, accusing him of conspiracy in office.
He is alleged to have conspired with other ministry officials and private companies to divert and convert N33,804,830,503.73 through various private companies in violation of relevant laws.
The EFCC’s legal team argued that Mamman’s actions amounted to a criminal breach of trust concerning funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
