The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday advanced its case against former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the admissibility of the defendant’s extra-judicial statements.
Mamman, who is being prosecuted in connection with alleged corruption in the Mambilla Power Project, is facing a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion.
At Thursday’s hearing, EFCC investigator Abubakar Muhammed Kwaido, led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, insisted that Mamman’s statements to the Commission were made voluntarily and without coercion.
“At no point did I harass or intimidate him. My boss even asked him if he could write, but he said he would prefer his lawyer to do so on his behalf,” Kwaido testified.
A video recording of Mamman’s interview with EFCC operatives was played in court.
In the footage, the former minister appeared calm and cooperative, admitting to cash transactions aimed at avoiding detection due to his public office.
“Honestly, I gave him N5 million about three times. I didn’t transfer or put it in his account. I gave him cash. Why I didn’t do a transfer was because I am a civil servant and I’ve left my business and some of my things, so I have been very careful,” Mamman said.
He identified the recipient of the cash payments as Abubakar Mustapha Bida, the Mambilla Project accountant, linking the transactions to the purchase of a property in Abuja’s Kado district.
“After the payment, he then gave me the house, that is why I didn’t bring up that issue. Then I accepted the house at Kado,” he said.
Mamman also recounted a separate real estate deal involving a property in Wuse, Abuja, which he claimed to have bought jointly with a friend who is a serving member of the House of Representatives.
According to him, the lawmaker registered the house under another name, complicating efforts to retrieve ownership documents.
“We bought the house from N30 to N35 million and agreed I would be paying in tranches. Things later changed and I left the office. He didn’t give me the papers and that’s how I left it,” Mamman said.
Throughout the recording, Mamman repeatedly accused Bida of dishonesty, alleging that most of the questionable dealings were carried out by Bida’s personal assistant, Musbahu Idris. Despite these claims, he admitted to benefiting from the illicit transactions.
“Whether I like it or not, I benefitted, because my people have benefited from the money. That was why I was all involved in it,” he confessed.
The video also captured Mamman explaining why his lawyer wrote his statements: “Honestly I can’t write, I’m not too strong, but as you can see, I’m about to take my medication. That’s why I spoke to him to write because I don’t want to stress myself.
“The doctors warned me not to stress myself. I was advised by my lawyer to come so that it will all be easy,” he said.
Justice Omotosho adjourned proceedings to April 14, 2025, for continuation of trial.
