Alleged Fraud: I Left Sick Bed To Attend EFCC Interrogation, Ex-Power Minister Tells Court

A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman said he left his sick bed to honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) for interrogation over allegation of fraud leveled against him by the commission.

Mamman, in a video clip played in the open court during his trial told Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that he had already told the operatives of the commission that he was not in the right frame of mind as he was just leaving sick bed during their investigation.

Before the clip was played, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, had told the court that the reason for playing the video was to show the court that a previous statement which the EFCC sought to tender in evidence was made voluntarily by the ex-minister

While the counsel of the former minister, Mr Femi Atte, SAN, interjected that it was made under duress because the minister was not in his right frame of mind as he had already told them that he just left the sick bed.

In the video clip, the former minister was seen telling operatives of the EFCC that he left sick bed to honour their invitation.

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He also denied ownership of a property in Wuse 2, Abuja when he was asked by the officials of the EFCC during the investigation.

The two hours video clip was played for 39 minutes in court, where Mamman spoke in Hausa during interrogation but was interpreted in English language by an interpreter of the court.

At the last adjourned date on March 19, a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and prosecution witness (PW15) in the trial, said the apex bank managed the project account on behalf of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF).

The witness, Okoroafor Chinyere, a deputy manager, domestic payment division at the bank, stated this while being led under cross-examination by the defendant Counsel, Mr Atte

Under cross-examination, she confirmed to the court that the EFCC wrote a letter to the bank, demanding for details on the Ministry of Power and it was given to them.

While speaking on the project account which documents were tendered and admitted as exhibit, Okoroafor confirmed that the bank manages the account on behalf of the accountant general office.

On whether she was familiar with Remita payment process, she answered in the affirmative.

But when asked whether it was possible for the former minister or his office to make approval, she said: “I cannot say”. “We don’t receive instructions to make payment on Remita, we only get a directive from OAGF,” Okoroafor said.

She added that the Mambila Zungeru project account is domicile with the CBN but was solely under the Accountant General of the Federation, not under the Minister of Power. “Only the OAGF has authority on the account.”

Okoroafor had told the court that there were laid down procedures as regards withdrawal from special project account, saying the minister has no power of withdrawal, only the OAGF has the authority on such account.