A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that Saleh Mamman, a former Minister of Power, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the outcome of his bail plea.
Justice James Omotosho issued the decision on Thursday, after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on a money laundering charge that had previously been taken down by the judge.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the accusation brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC charged Mamman with 12 counts of money laundering.
He was accused of laundering around N33 billion.
He pleaded not guilty to all allegations after they were read to him while docked.
Olumide Fusika (SAN), the EFCC counsel, requested that the trial begin on a specific date.
The defendant’s counsel, Femi Ate (SAN), however, informed the court that he filed a bail application after the case was adjourned earlier that morning.
“I have filed a motion on notice this morning shortly after the proceeding was stood down,” he said.
However, the court responded that the case was adjourned to hear the defendant’s plea rather than a bail application.
However, the defendant’s counsel urged the court to hear his application.
“I don’t have it before me,” Justice Omotosho remarked in answer to Ate’s request.
The defence attorney asked the court to allow him to return the following day to argue the bail application.
The prosecution counsel stated that he was served with the bail application around 12:30 p.m. and that he has no objections to the court’s ruling of the day on the bail motion.
