In a significant development, the former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, who was recently remanded in prison over his alleged involvement in a N33 billion fraud, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho, delivering the ruling on Friday, set Mamman’s bail at a staggering N10 billion. The conditions for his release include two sureties, each possessing landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with a minimum valuation of N750 million. Additionally, these sureties must submit their three-year tax clearance certificates, provide an affidavit of means, and both the defendant and the sureties must present certified copies of their bank statements along with recent passport photographs.
Furthermore, Mamman has been ordered to surrender his international passport to the court registrar, who must verify all the submitted documents before Mamman is released from custody. Alternatively, the sureties can submit a bank guarantee or bond for the sum of N10 billion.
Until all bail conditions are met, Mamman will remain in prison custody. The court has adjourned the case until September 25 for further hearings.
Mamman, facing a 12-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), pleaded not guilty. His legal team, led by Mr. Femi Ate, SAN, urged the court to grant him bail on more lenient terms. Citing Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Mamman’s team highlighted that he had been on administrative bail for over two years without violating any conditions.
The former minister assured the court of his commitment to attend all trial sessions, emphasizing his willingness to comply with any imposed conditions and not interfere with witnesses. The EFCC, represented by Mr. A. O. Mohammed, did not oppose Mamman’s bail request but insisted on stringent conditions to ensure his presence during the trial.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested in 2021, a few months after his removal from office. The EFCC’s investigation alleges that Mamman, along with ministry staff, diverted approximately N22 billion intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects, using the funds to acquire luxury assets domestically and abroad.
In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday, Mamman reportedly slumped outside the courtroom, adding to the tension surrounding his high-profile case.
As the legal proceedings continue, all eyes will be on the next hearing in September, where more details of the case will be unveiled.
