THE FEDERAL High Court in Abuja on Thursday fixed June 9 for judgment in the alleged N33.8 billion money laundering case filed against former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, and Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments for and against the case.
When the case was called, Atteh told the court that he filed his final written address on behalf of the defendant on April 1.
He said he also filed a reply to the prosecution’s final written address.
The lawyer said he relied on the submissions in their processes in urging the court to discharge and acquit his client of the charges.
On his part, Oyedepo informed the court that the prosecution team filed its final written address on April 14.
He adopted the application and prayed the court to convict Mamman in all the 12 counts.
“Your lordship, what is important is the fact that funds left a particular government account and went to a BDC (Bureau de Change) account.
“The BDC came before my lord to say that it received this money.
“The BDC went ahead to tell your lordship how he was carrying money to the defendant’s house.
“The boy who was working with the defendant also came to testify how he was receiving some of these monies on the instruction of the defendant.
“How else is the prosecution supposed to prove this matter? The evidence before your lordship is clear,” he said.
Oyedepo urged the court to discountenance the submission of the defence and convict the defendant.
Mamman was appointed minister by the late former President Buhari in August 2019 and was sacked in September 2021.
The EFCC, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024, had preferred a 12-count amended charge against the ex-minister as sole defendant.
The commission, in July 2024, arraigned Mamman on alleged money laundering and conspiracy with officials at the ministry and some private companies to “indirectly convert” the sum of N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.
The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The anti-graft agency, in proving its case, called 17 prosecution witnesses (PWs) and tendered 43 exhibits against the defendant before closing its case.
However, Mamman, through his lawyer, filed a no-case submission on Nov. 19, 2025.
The former minister, who formulated one issue for determination, said the prosecution failed to present credible and reliable evidence before the court to sustain a conviction against him or for him to enter his defence.
Delivering the ruling on Dec. 11, 2025, the judge dismissed Mamman’s no-case submission on the ground that the EFCC had been able to establish a prima facie case against him.
Justice Omotosho held that the evidence tendered was such that the defendant must proffer some explanations or put in a defence to the allegations made against him, especially considering the seriousness of the offences.
The judge, however, said that Mamman was still innocent until proven guilty. (NAN)
