Court grants N10bn bail to ex-power minister, Mamman

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, granted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, bail in the sum of N10 billion with two sureties in like sum.

Mamman is facing 12 counts of money laundering to the tune of N33bn preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The court, in a ruling delivered by Justice James Omotosho, held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory, with a minimum valuation of N750 million.

The court ordered the sureties to submit their three-year tax clearance certificates, depose to an affidavit of means, adding that both the defendant and the sureties must submit certified copies of their bank statements with their recent passport photographs.

In the alternative, the court said the sureties could submit a bank guarantee or bond in the sum of N10bn.

The court further ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport to the court’s Registrar who must verify all the documents before the defendant is released from custody.

Omotosho also ordered that the defendant should remain in prison custody, pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.

The court then adjourned the matter till September 25, 2024. for hearing.

Mamman, on Thursday, took his plea as his counsel, Femi Ate (SAN) had informed the court that a bail application was filed after the matter was stood down but the judge said it wasn’t yet in the court file and proceeded to remand the former minister in prison custody to hear his application today (Friday).

Meanwhile, Mamman pleaded not guilty to all 12 counts preferred against him by the EFCC after they were read to him.

The ex-minister’s bail application, dated July 11, 2024, was hinged on the provisions of Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.

The defendant told the court that he was on administrative bail for over two years, saying he never violated any of the conditions the anti-graft agency handed to him.

He prayed the court to exercise its discretion in his favour as he pledged to always be available for his trial.

He also said that he had reliable persons who would stand surety for him and also assured the court that he would not interfere with or influence any of the witnesses billed to testify against him in the matter.

EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. A. O. Mohammed, did not raise any objection to the defendant’s request for bail but asked the court to impose conditions that would warrant the defendant to attend his trial.

Mamman, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office.

EFCC, among other things, alleged that he conspired with staff members of the ministry to divert about N22bn that was meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.

The anti-graft agency said its investigations revealed that the suspects used the funds to acquire choice assets, both within and outside the country.