Alleged N33.8b fraud: Former power minister found out his fate June 9

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday set June 9 for judgment in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over alleged N33.8 billion fraud.

The judge set the date after Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Atteh (SAN), gave their final written addresses on the case.

During Thursday’s hearing, Atteh told the court that he submitted his last written address on behalf of the accused on April 1.

The attorney said he also filed a reply to the prosecutor’s final written address.

Attah added that he relied on the submissions in his proceedings and urged the court to discharge and acquit his client of the charges.

Meanwhile, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution team had submitted his final written address on April 14.

He accepted the plea and prayed the court to convict Mamman on all 12 charges.

“Your Excellency, what is important is the fact that the funds came out of a certain government account and went into the BDC (Bureau de Change) account.

“BDC came before my Lord to say that they received this money.

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“BDC then told His Honor how he brought the money to the defendant’s house.

“The boy who worked with the defendant also came forward to testify how he received some of the money on the defendant’s instructions.

“How else can the prosecutor prove this? The evidence before Your Honor is clear,” said the prosecutor.

Oyedepo urged the court to ignore the defense submissions and convict the accused.

Mamman was appointed minister by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and sacked in September 2021.

The EFCC, in the indictment marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024, preferred 12 amended charges against the former minister as the sole accused.

The commission, in July 2024, indicted Mamman on suspicion of money laundering.

He is accused of conspiring with officials in the ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert” the sum of N33.8 billion intended for the Zungeru and Mampilla Hydroelectric Project.

However, the former minister pleaded not guilty to the charges.