A former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, has told a Federal High Court, Abuja, how he was compelled to make his statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his investigation into the alleged money laundering charge relating to the Mambilla Power Project.
Mamman, who testified in the trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho, said he was under severe pain and discomfort resulting from his ill health during his investigation.
Led in evidence by Femi Atteh (SAN), his counsel, the former minister said he visited the EFCC on 20th February with a 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 to be fully fit to volunteer his statement, was refused by an investigator of the EFCC, who was identified as Shehu.
He claimed that Shehu bluntly told him that he was the “target” of the whole investigation.
“My Lord, I was in serious pain during the session and in tears due to my ill health. I requested that they give me an adjournment of one week to enable me to regain myself before coming back for my statement, but they refused.
“When I reported to the EFCC that day, I went to the desk of one of the investigators called Shehu, where I complained about my health situation. I even showed him my medical report in pleading with him for a week’s adjournment, but he refused. I asked him why, and he told me that I was the target of the investigation,” Mamman told the court.
Speaking under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), the defendant maintained that he was not in a position to remember everything that transpired during the investigation.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till 15 July for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial.
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