A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has insisted that the written statement allegedly implicating him in a N33.8 billion corruption case was obtained under duress by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mamman, who is facing a 12-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering over funds meant for the Mambilla Power Project, claims that he did not voluntarily make the confessional statement which the EFCC seeks to tender as evidence.
The former minister, who voluntarily honoured the EFCC’s invitation in 2023, was reportedly asked to write a statement before leaving the Commission’s custody. However, his legal team now argues that the statement was not freely given and should not be admissible in court.
This contention prompted the court to commence a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statement was made voluntarily or under coercion.
During the ongoing proceedings, EFCC’s investigator and first witness in the trial-within-trial, Abubakar Kwaido, maintained that Mamman’s statement, dated 20 February 2024, was given willingly. Led in evidence by EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Kwaido explained that the statement was recorded in a general office equipped with audiovisual surveillance accessible to multiple officers.
He also disclosed that Mamman, citing health issues, authorised his lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed of Pineal Solicitors, to write the statement on his behalf, a decision supported by a submitted medical report. “I, Saleh Mamman, have authorised my lawyer… to write on my behalf due to ill health and other health challenges,” Kwaido quoted from the signed authorisation form.
However, during the playback of the audiovisual recording in court, the ex-Minister appeared visibly weak and was heard complaining about his health, reinforcing the defence’s claim that the statement was not made in sound condition or voluntarily.
The EFCC had attempted to tender the statement through its 17th prosecution witness, but defence counsel, Femi Atte (SAN), objected on the grounds that the statement was made under duress, triggering the ongoing trial-within-trial.
Meanwhile, in the main trial, the EFCC alleged that over N26 billion was funneled through Bureau de Change operators using various corporate accounts linked to entities such as Breathable Investment, Fullest Utility Concepts, and Golden Bond Nigeria Ltd.
According to Kwaido, the EFCC launched investigations in 2023 based on intelligence reports of massive financial diversions, working in collaboration with commercial banks, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The court has adjourned further hearing on the matter to May 2, 8, and 9 for continuation of both the main trial and the trial-within-trial