Rita Odafe
Saleh Mamman
Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, is facing serious allegations of misappropriating funds, specifically accused of spending ₦20 million on resort accommodations for one year.
The claims surfaced during a cross-examination process led by Colonel Adebisi Adesanya (rtd), the third prosecution witness, in a Federal High Court session in Abuja with Justice James Omotosho presiding, on Wednesday.
This development followed a disclosure made by the witness a day prior, stating that Mamman had utilized the funds designated for the Mambilla Hydro Power project for his accommodation expenses.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought a 12-count indictment against Mamman regarding alleged conspiracy to commit money laundering exceeding ₦33 billion.
According to the Chief Security Officer and owner of Sami Court Resort Limited, where Mamman allegedly stayed, he testified that the resort operates as a long-term accommodation facility, highlighting that guests only bring personal items while the resort caters to their other needs.
During his testimony, he noted that he had been questioned by the EFCC on September 6, 2023, concerning transactions related to the resort’s UBA bank account from 2019 to 2021. He confirmed that Exhibit PWC included an invoice for Mamman’s ₦20 million payment, covering lodging from August 30, 2021, to August 30, 2022.
“This invoice reflects the ₦20 million payment for lodging costs associated with Engineer Saleh Mamman,” he stated.
He further elaborated on the payment breakdown referenced in “Exhibit PWC,” detailing multiple transactions made by various entities to cover the accommodation costs for Mamman.
Payments included amounts of ₦5 million from Golden Bond Nigeria Limited and Mintedge Nigeria Limited, respectively, alongside a ₦2,500,000 payment from Abdullahi Suleiman, and a ₦7,500,000 deposit from A.I.J Global Tools Limited, all allocated for Mamman’s stay during the specified period.
The witness emphasized that these payments were solely for a one-bedroom rental, transacted through the resort’s bank account.
“We possess the invoicing documents indicating the ₦20 million rental charge covering the period from August 30, 2019, to August 30, 2020,” he added.
Justice Omotosho has postponed the proceedings to January 13, 2025, to further explore the details of the trial.
