- EFCC accuses former Power Minister Saleh Mamman of diverting N33.8 billion from the Mambilla Hydro project to buy properties in Abuja.
- Mamman denies the allegations, blaming his assistant for managing the funds, but EFCC evidence links him to the diversion.
- The court adjourned the trial until October 23. Mamman faces 12 charges, including conspiracy and money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman of diverting N33.8 billion from the Mambilla Hydro project to purchase properties in Abuja. On Tuesday, EFCC operative Abubakar Kweido testified in court, stating that Mamman used project funds to acquire properties in Kado Estate and Wuse 2.
“Our investigation showed that Mamman took money meant for the Mambilla Hydro project to buy properties in Abuja,” Kweido told the Federal High Court. In his defence, Mamman denied the allegations and blamed his assistant, Maisbahu Idris, for handling the funds. According to Mamman, Idris managed and distributed the project funds to ministry staff.
However, Kweido revealed that the EFCC found foreign currency and corporate documents while searching for Mamman’s residence. “We discovered cash in foreign currencies and Corporate Affairs Commission documents that link Abangus Nigeria Limited to the fund diversion,” Kweido explained. The EFCC claims Mamman used Abangus Nigeria Ltd as a front to funnel money from the Mambilla project.
The court accepted the payment vouchers from Abangus Nig. Ltd and the cash recovered from Mamman’s residence as evidence. Judge James Omotosho then set the next court date for October 23. Mamman, who first appeared in court on July 11, faces 12 charges, including conspiracy, money laundering, and misappropriation of funds.
Kweido also disclosed that Mamman transferred project funds to more than 13 different entities, shedding further light on the depth of corruption in the Mambilla Hydro project.
Mamman’s case adds to the former ministers implicated in the Mambilla Hydro project scandal. In December 2023, the EFCC declared former Minister of Steel and Power Olu Agunloye wanted for his role in the mismanagement of project funds. Authorities remanded Agunloye in Kuje prison in January 2024 before granting him N50 million bail.
Agunloye and Leno Adesanya, chairman of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company, faced scrutiny in arbitration filings for awarding contracts related to the Mambilla project without approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
In a related court case, former Guaranty Trust Bank employee Adewale Agunbiade testified that Agunloye accepted N5.2 million from a Sunrise Power staff member.
The EFCC continues investigating the corruption surrounding the Mambilla Hydro project, a crucial initiative to solve Nigeria’s power problems. The commission remains committed to ensuring justice for the funds misused in this significant infrastructure project.
As the trial progresses, the court’s October 23 hearing will be pivotal in determining the former minister’s fate and the future of the Mambilla Hydro project. The outcome may significantly impact Nigeria’s power sector and fight against corruption.