Abubakar Kweido, the prosecuting witness, PW1, in the trial of a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja before Justice James Omotosho that the former minister allegedly used funds from the Mambilla Hydro project’s account to purchase Abuja properties.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is prosecuting Mamman 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).
During Wednesday’s proceedings, Kweido, an operative of the EFCC, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olumide Fusica, SAN, said investigation activities showed that some funds released to the former minister were used to purchase properties in Kado Estate and Wuse 2, Abuja.
“We invited and presented the investigation’s findings to the minister, who acknowledged and responded with 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 for the Mambilla Hydro project to share with his staff in the ministry.
“We conducted a search in the minister’s house, and we recovered some foreign currencies in cash. We also recovered CAC documents of Bangus 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,” he said.
Payment vouchers for Bangus Nig. Ltd. and Exhibit Form for some cash recovered at his residence were tendered and admitted in evidence.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 23, 2024, for continuation of trial.
