…Minister faints outside the courtroom
Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, yesterday collapsed outside the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503 against Mamman.
Before proceedings, Mammans counsel, Femi Ate, informed the presiding judge, James Omotosho, that his client had fainted due to ill health.
When hearing resumed, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock. However, his clothes were partly drenched. The judge then asked Mamman why he was sweating, or whether it was raining. The ex-minister replied that water had been poured on him.
The EFCC counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, had told the court that there was a development outside the courtroom. According to him, he had discussed Mammans ill health with Ate outside the courtroom.
Responding, Ate said he had appealed to Olumide-Fusika that the case be adjourned to Monday on account of his clients ill health. However, the judge had said due to the backlog in the court dockets, the arraignment could only be fixed for September ending. He then withdrew the oral application for an adjournment.
Olumide-Fusika said he had filed an amended charge in the morning following a mistake in the name of the defendant, and prayed that a fresh charge be read to Mamman so that he could take his plea. Omotosho, however, demurred.
The judge then asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea today. The defendant responded in the affirmative. The former minister told the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because he had taken medicines on an empty stomach.
Mamman said while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped, adding that he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
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 Centre.
Recall that Mamman was appointed minister by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and was sacked in September 2021. In May 2023, the former minister was arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N33.8 billion fraud.
The anti-graft agency alleges that Mamman conspired with officials at the power ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the sum of N33.8 billion, which was meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro-electric power projects.
