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EFCC to arraign ex-power minister Saleh Mamman over ‘N33bn fraud’

July 11, 2024 10:27 am

Saleh Mamman, former minister of power.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 12-count charge against Saleh Mamman, a former minister of power.

The anti-graft agency is accusing Mamman of money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.

Mamman was appointed minister by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019. He was sacked in September 2021.

In May 2023, the former minister was arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N22 billion fraud.

In the charge sheet seen by TheCable, the anti-graft agency alleged 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.

The EFCC alleged that Mamman was aided by one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of $655,700 without going through a financial institution.

“That you, SALEH KWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), sometime in 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, whilst you were the Minister of Power conspired with other officials of your Ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N=33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo) through various private companies,” the charge sheet reads.

“Which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and you thereby commit an offence contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you SALEH GWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), in, 2019, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, indirectly used the sum of =N=20,000,000:00 (Twenty Million Naira) as rent for a l (One) Bedroom Apartment in Sammy Court Resort, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act to wit:

“Criminal breach of trust in relation to the funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria; and that you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

“That you SALEH GWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), between September 2020 and March 2021 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, indirectly used the aggregate sum of =N=15,000,000:00 (Fifteen Million Naira) as part-payment for rent of a 1 (One) Bedroom Apartment in Sammy Court Resort, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit:

“That you SALEH GWAGYANG MAMMAN (Male), between September 2021 and January 2022 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Court, indirectly used the aggregate sum of =N=12,500,000:00 (Twelve Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira) as part-payment for rent of a 1 (One) Bedroom Apartment in Sammy Court Resort, which sum you reasonably ought to know formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit:

Mamman is expected to be arraigned before James Omotoso of the federal high court in Abuja on July 11.