Drama Unfolds in Court as Ex-Minister Saleh Mamman’s Trial Resumes

Saleh Mamman, resumed Thursday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with fresh revelations emerging as the prosecution played a video recording of Mamman calmly confessing to large cash transactions.

Mamman, who served in President Buhari’s cabinet, is facing a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving N33.8 billion. The charges are linked to the controversial Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects, two initiatives that have long been marred by funding and transparency issues.

In a trial-within-trial session aimed at proving the voluntariness of Mamman’s statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecution introduced video evidence contradicting the ex-minister’s claim that his confession was obtained under duress.

Abubakar Kwaido, an EFCC investigator and witness for the prosecution, testified that Mamman was never harassed or coerced. “There was at no point I harassed or intimidated him with detention,” Kwaido told the court, adding that Mamman had even opted to have his lawyer write on his behalf due to health concerns.

The court was shown a video in which Mamman, seated calmly, admitted to handing over N5 million in cash on three separate occasions. He explained that he avoided bank transfers to prevent drawing attention to himself as a public official.

“Honestly, I gave him N5 million about three times. I didn’t transfer or put it in his account. I gave him cash,” Mamman said, referring to Abubakar Bida, the accountant for the Mambilla project. The funds, he claimed, were for the purchase of a house in Kado, Abuja.

In a further twist, Mamman recounted a second real estate deal in Wuse, Abuja, which he said he bought in collaboration with a friend from the House of Representatives. According to him, the house was registered under a different name to conceal the transaction.

“We bought the house from N30 to N35 million and we agreed I would pay him in tranches,” he stated. “Things became somehow and I then left the office. He didn’t give me the papers.”

The former minister didn’t mince words in the footage, accusing his associate, Mustapha Bida, of dishonesty and implicating his assistant, Musbahu Idris. “Mustapha is a liar. It was his PA that did all these things,” Mamman alleged.

Despite his defensive tone, Mamman conceded that he had benefitted from the scheme. “Whether I like it or not, I benefitted because my people have benefited from the money. That was why I was all involved in it,” he said.

Citing his health, Mamman also told investigators he had been unable to write his statement himself and had asked his lawyer to assist. “Honestly, I can’t write. I’m not too strong… The doctors warned me not to stress myself,” he said.