A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the consideration of his bail application.
Justice James Omotosho issued the order on Thursday after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on money laundering charge which was earlier stepped down by the judge.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman.
He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.
He however pleaded not guilty to all the counts after it was read to him while docked.
The EFCC counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), sought a date for the commencement of trial.
Defendant’s lawyer, Femi Ate (SAN), however informed the court that he filed a bail application after the matter was stood down earlier in the morning.
“I have filed a motion on notice this morning shortly after the proceeding was stood down,” he said.
However, the judge replied that the matter was stood down to take the defendant’s plea and not bail application.
But the defendant’s lawyer urged the court to hear his application.
“I don’t have it before me,” Justice Omotosho said in response to Ate’s plea.
The defense counsel prayed the court to allow him return the next day to argue the bail application.
The prosecution counsel admitted that he was served with the bail application around 12:30pm, adding that he has no objection to the court decision of the day for bail application.
After listening to their submissions, the judge adjourned the matter till Friday July 12 for the hearing of the bail application.
Omotosho also ordered that the former minister be remanded in Kuje correctional center.
The former minister served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021.
On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
Buhari had September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, in what was called a cabinet restructuring.
Mamman was accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
The investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars had reportedly been recovered.
PUNCH
