N33bn fraud: Ex-power minister collapses in Court Premises

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Ex-minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on Thursday collapsed on the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja where he is facing prosecution for alleged N33bn fraud.

The occasion was the arraignment of Mamman, power minister between 2019—2021 part of the time Muhammadu Buhari was running the show as President.

The proceedings however went on as the defendant was led into the dock in drenched clothes.

This made his lawyer, Femi Ate (SAN) to explain to Justice James Omotosho that he collapsed on the court premises and had to be revived by medical personnel just before the case was called for hearing.

Ate went on to make a case for the adjournment of the matter on grounds that his client is unwell and allegation that Mamman was only served with the charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after he was resuscitated.

Subsequently Justice Omotoso declined the adjournment prayer but granted a one-hour stand-down of the case for the embattled ex-minister’s health to improve

He was later arraigned on 12 counts in which he was accused of money laundering to the tune of N22bn.

After Mamman pleaded not guilty to the charges, the EFCC prosecutor, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), asked the judge to fix a date for trial.

But the defence counsel said he had filed an application for his client’s bail.

The judge, however, said the application was not before the court, holding that the bail application would be adjourned till today (Friday) for hearing.

Meanwhile, he ordered that Mamman be sent to the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application on the same day for an hour.

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