The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman continued yesterday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its 8th witness.
The witness, a Bureau de-change (BDC) operator, Abdullahi Suleman, narrated how more than ₦22 billion was allegedly siphoned from the Federal Ministry of Power while Mamman was Minister. He said the Naira equivalent of the money was exchanged for United States dollars through his business accounts.
Recall that Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money-laundering to the tune of ₦33,804,830,503.73.
At yesterday’s proceedings, Suleiman, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, (SAN) narrated that about 12 of his business accounts received money from the Federal Ministry of Power without carrying out any service, contact or project. His companies: Prymint Investment Ltd, Strong Field International Projects Ltd, Mintedge Nigeria Ltd, First-Class Construction and Project, Silverline Ocean Ventures, Golden Bond Nigeria Ltd, Sipikin Global Enterprise, Spinhiills Biz International Ltd, Fullest Utility Concepts Limited, Platinum Touch Enterprises, Breathable Investment Ltd, and a company owned by his brother named Gurupche Business Enterprises, were used for the transactions.
According to him, “I know Alhaji Maina Goje; we are in the same business. Some time in 2019, Maina Goje met me, that he has a transaction, saying I should give him some of my account numbers. The first account I gave him was Fullest, he will send money and I will give him dollars; he started asking for more accounts. He will tell me what to do with the transactions, I will get the dollar and give him, and sometimes I will do a transfer to other accounts. We have been working together since then till 2024.
“From my rough calculations, the amount I have received through the transactions will be more than 22 billion naira. Also, Maina used to send someone named Musbahu; anytime he was not available, he would send him and give me instructions on what to do with him. We do call him Yaron Minister, because he is from Saleh Mamman”, he said.
Continuing, “I also know Mustapha Muhammed, Goje told me that he is his Oga, I didn’t know him before, until Maina Goje introduced him to me, then I learnt he works with Federal Ministry of Housing, and I was instructed that anytime they can’t reach him, I should give him the amount of dollars he requested”.
When shown Exhibit X series, which contained bank statements generated from his companies showing evidence of money inflows into his bank accounts with Strong Field international Projects Ltd, Mintedge Nigeria Ltd, Prymint Investment Ltd, the witness admitted that they were the accounts he gave Maina Goje.
Earlier, a Compliance Officer from FCMB presented and tendered bank statements and attachments in a reply letter to the EFCC dated August 16, 2024 in respect of Prymint Investments Ltd, Platinum Touch Enterprises, Royal Perimeter Ventures, Golden Bond Nigeria Ltd, Flex Utility Concepts Ltd, Bentech Nigeria Ltd, admitted and marked: Exhibit XTUB.
The judge adjourned the matter to 23 January, for continuation of hearing.
