JUST IN: Court convicts ex-power minister Mamman of N33.8bn fraud

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted a former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, on the 12-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N33.8 billion preferred against him by the federal government.

In a judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho on Thursday, the court held that the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been able to prove its case against the former minister beyond a reasonable doubt as required by law.

The judge lambasted the convicted former minister for living large when he was minister at the expense of Nigerians, saying his action was part of what is keeping Nigerians in darkness now.

Following a request by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of the convict, who was absent in court when the judgement was delivered without any reason.

When the case was called, counsel to the convict, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that he had no access to his client since Tuesday, when the notice of the judgment got to him.

He said one of the associates of the convict on Tuesday informed him that the former minister is sick, and this is the reason for his absence in court.

Oyedepo, while urging the court for the warrant of arrest, said the defense failed to provide credible evidence, like a medical report, to back up the claim that the convict is sick.

The judge, in issuing the order for the arrest of the convict, said that the state should look for the convict, arrest him, and produce him in court on May 13 for sentencing, having been convicted of the offences for which he was charged by the anti-graft agency.

It would be recalled that Justice Omotosho had, in December last year, dismissed a no-case submission filed by former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman.

While delivering the ruling, the judge held that the prosecution, the EFCC, had established a prima facie case against the former minister, adding that the evidence presented was sufficient for the defendant to provide explanations or mount a defense, particularly considering the seriousness of the allegations.

Mamman, who was appointed Minister of Power by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and later relieved of his duties in September 2021, was convicted on a 12-count amended charge brought by the EFCC.