Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, of a 12-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the anti-graft agency successfully established the former minister’s culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was found guilty of the illegal diversion of public funds totalling about ₦33.8 billion.
The court held that he made a cash payment of $655,700 (equivalent to about ₦200 million) for a landed property in Abuja without recourse to a financial institution.
He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust in relation to funds released by the federal government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the court, most of the funds were siphoned through Bureau de Change operators (BDCs), who converted the money into foreign currencies and handed it over to the defendant.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho held.
The trial judge further decried that the defendant, as Minister of Power, failed to leave any meaningful legacy in addressing the country’s electricity challenges.
Credit: channelstv.com
