Former Minister Of Power, Mamman Collapses in Court During N33billion Fraud Trial

Mr Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, collapsed outside the courtroom at the continuation of a money laundering trial against him

The event occurred on Thursday at a Federal High Court, Abuja and was blamed on his alleged ill-health.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mamman, whose plea was fixed for Thursday morning, collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.

The former minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, told Justice James Omotosho shortly when he was called to take his plea.

Upon resumed hearing, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his clothes drenched.

Justice Omotosho was quoted as asking why Mamman was sweating or whether it was raining outside, while the accused stated that this was from the water poured on him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, while addressing the court, said though the matter was fixed for Mamman’s arraignment, there was a development outside the courtroom.

Olumide-Fusika said he had a discussion with Ate outside the courtroom about Mamman’s ill-health.

“I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learner senior advocate to tell the honourable court himself,” he said.

Speaking, Ate said Mamman, “upon being brought into the premises of the court collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”

The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.

Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
“It can happen to any one,” the judge said.

The ex-minister told the court that he called the attention of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the name in the charge served on him.

“I was complaining about the name, that it was not my own,” he said.

Justice Omotosho then stepped down the arraignment until 1pm today.

NAN reports that the EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman.

He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.

The former minister served under former President Buhari from 2019 to 2021.

A woman identified as Precious Yusuf has been arrested by officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service for allegedly attempting to smuggle drugs to an inmate at the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja.

The suspect was said to have disguised as a visitor to one of the inmates but was apprehended during a search by the correctional service officials. In a statement released, the FCT command spokesperson of the service, Adamu Duza, said the accused concealed the drugs in food packs and later confessed that she was sent to deliver the drugs to an inmate in the facility.

“The Nigerian Correctional Service, FCT Command has apprehended a lady called Precious Yusuf trying to push in drugs to an inmate of the Medium Security Custodial Centre Kuje, Abuja. This occurred on Tuesday when the above-named lady came in the guise of a visitor to an inmate. During the usual routine search by officers of the Kuje Custodial Centre, items suspected to be Indian hemp and other dangerous drugs were concealed in food packs in a carton. The culprit confessed to having been sent to bring this to an inmate of the custodial centre.” the statement read

He noted that the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Ibrahim Usman, directed that the woman be handed over to the Nigerian Drug Law Agency for investigation and prosecution.

“The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Ibrahim Usman, has since ordered that the suspect be handed over to the Nigerian Drug Law Agency for further investigation and prosecution. Usman cautioned and warned drug peddlers to desist from trying to smuggle in illicit substances into the custodial centres in the guise of visits as his officers and men are on alert to deflate such a plot.”