Just in: Buhari’s Power Minister, Mamman, gets reprieve, N10bln bail

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday granted bail to former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman, who was being held in prison over an alleged N33 billion fraud.

Justice James Omotosho ruled that Saleh Mamman, who is facing a 12-count charge, should be released on N10 billion bail with two sureties in the same amount.

It held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, with a minimum valuation of N750 million.

The court mandated the sureties to provide a three-year tax clearance certificate, an affidavit of means, and certified copies of their bank statements, along with recent passport photographs, for both the defendant and the sureties.

Furthermore, the trial judge directed the defendant to hand over his international passport to the court’s registrar.

Before releasing the defendant from custody, he ordered the court’s Registrar to verify all submitted documents.

In the alternative, the court stated that the sureties could submit a bank guarantee or bond amounting to N10 billion.

The court ruled that the defendant must remain in prison custody until all the bail conditions are fully met and perfected.

The court adjourned the case until September 25, scheduling a hearing for that date.

Mamman, who denied the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requested lenient bail through his legal team, led by Mr. Femi Ate (SAN).

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, served as the foundation for his bail application, dated July 11.

He informed the court that he had been on administrative bail for over two years, diligently adhering to all conditions set by the EFCC without any violations.

Mamman respectfully requested the court consider his good behaviour and grant him favourable bail terms, assuring the court of his consistent availability for trial and offering reliable sureties to guarantee his attendance.

He gave the court a solemn assurance that he would not tamper with, intimidate, or exert any undue influence on the witnesses scheduled to testify against him in the case, and that he would respect the integrity of the legal process.

The EFCC, represented by its counsel, Mr. A. O. Mohammed, indicated that it did not object to the defendant’s bail request but instead urged the court to set stringent conditions that would ensure the defendant’s consistent attendance and participation in the trial proceedings.

Mamman, a member of the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, faced arrest in 2021, approximately four months following his removal from office.

The EFCC accused Mamman of colluding with ministry staff to embezzle approximately N22 billion intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.

The agency alleged that the suspects utilized the diverted funds to purchase lucrative assets, both domestically and internationally, as revealed by their investigations.

Mamman had allegedly suffered a medical condition on Thursday at his arraignment, collapsing outside the courtroom.