The former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja how he was compelled under difficult situation to make his statement at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his investigation in the alleged money laundering charge bordering on the Mambilla power project.

Mamman, who testified in a trial-within-trial, before Justice James Omotosho of the court, said he was under severe pains and discomfort resulting from his ill health during his investigation.

Led in evidence by his lawyer, Femi Atteh, (SAN), the former minister told the court that he visited the EFCC on 20 February with his lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed of Pineal Solicitors, who wrote the statement on his behalf due to his ill health.

He claimed, however, that he could not confirm whether the lawyer wrote exactly what he dictated.

He narrated how his request for an adjournment of the investigation exercise, to enable him fully fit and sound to volunteer his statement was refused by an investigator of the EFCC, simply identified as Shehu, was refused.

It was his testimony that the said Shehu bluntly told him that he was the “target” of the whole investigation.
“My Lord, I was in serious pains during the session and was in tears due to my ill health. I requested that they should give me an adjournment of one week to enable me regain myself before coming back for my statement l, but they refused.

” When I reported to the EFCC on that day, I went to the desk of one of the investigator called Shehu, where I complained about my health situation. I even showed him my medical report in pleading with him for one week adjournment, but he refused
“I asked him why and he told me that I was the target of the investigation,” the defendant told the court.

Speaking under cross- examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the defendant maintained that he was not in the position to remember everything that transpired during the investigation.

The matter was adjourned till 15 July for adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial.

Meanwhile, some legal analyst have expressed concern that some principal actors in the alleged fraud were not charged by the EFCC alongside the former minister in the alleged N33.8bn money laundering allegations.

Specifically, they wondered why the prime suspect, Mustapha Bida,
the project Accountant of Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power plant projects, and his two assistants, Oladipo Adebowale and Ogunjobi Olusola, the Bureau De Change Operators and companies, were not charged alongside the Minister.

In a related development, the EFCC has filed a fresh criminal charge against the former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman and seven others before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, bordering on alleged advance fee fraud to the tune of N31 billion.
Other defendants charged along the Mamman in the charge marked FCT/CR/ 375/2025 are Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen O, Oladipo Adebowad Ogunjobi Olusola.

While Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi is a Director, Finance and Accounts, Federal Ministry of Power, Ben Nsikak is a Director Federal project, responsible for deployment of projects, Stephen Ojo is the Director Accounts and Financial Management, Federal Ministry of Power.