Federal High Court, Abuja, has ordered the remand of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in Kuje Custodial Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order after Mamman pleaded not guilty to a 12-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offences.
After the former Minister took his plea, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, sought a date for commencement of trial, but Mamman’s counsel Femi Ate, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of his client.
Justice Omotosho however said the application was not yet in the court’s file.
Ate prayed the court to be allowed to return the next day to argue the bail application, which the EFCC lawyer did not opposet.
The trial judge then adjourned the matter to Friday for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the Ex-Minister be remanded in Kuje Custodial Centre.
The arraignment, which was earlier fixed for Thursday morning, could not go on due to Mamman’s ill-health and the matter was stood down till 1pm.
He was said to have collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.
Ate said his client was served with the charge after he was resusitated.
The judge, however, asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea and he responded in affirmative.
The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman.
He was alleged to have committed the money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.
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 called a cabinet restructuring.
He was accused of conspiring with staff of the Ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
