- Safiu Kehinde
First Prosecuting witness at the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has, on Wednesday, revealed how the Ex-Minister used proceeds from the N33.8 billion Mambilla project to purchase properties in Abuja.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on X by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday.
According to the statement, the witness, identified as Abubakar Kweido, told the Presiding Judge, James Omotosho, at the Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja how Mamman allegedly used funds from the Mambilla Hydro project’s account to purchase Abuja properties.
Kweido who is an official of the EFCC, narrated how he had investigated the ex-minister and presented the result to him which he acknowledged but denied claims of being connected to the alleged property purchase.
Mamman, however, confessed how his personal assistant, Maisbahu Idris, often share the project fund between his staff.
“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 the 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”, Kweido said.
Mamman is currently under prosecution 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).
Meanwhile, EFCC claimed that Payment Vouchers for Bangus Nig. Ltd and Exhibit Form for some cash were recovered at the ex-minister’s residence and were tendered and admitted in evidence.
However, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 23, 2024 for continuation of trial.