Former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, was granted a N10 billion bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, amid his N33 billion money laundering trial. Justice James Omotosho, delivering the ruling, stipulated that Mamman must provide two sureties in the same sum. These sureties are required to possess landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory, with a minimum valuation of N750 million.
The court further mandated that the sureties submit their three-year tax clearance certificates and depose to an affidavit of means. Both the defendant and the sureties are also required to submit certified copies of their bank statements along with recent passport photographs. Alternatively, the sureties can provide a bank guarantee or bond totalling N10 billion.
Justice Omotosho ordered Mamman to surrender his international passport to the court’s Registrar, who is tasked with verifying all documents before the former minister can be released from custody. Pending the fulfilment of these conditions, Mamman will remain in prison custody. The court has adjourned the matter until September 25 for a hearing.
This ruling follows Thursday’s proceedings, where Mamman’s counsel, Femi Ate (SAN), filed a bail application, but the case was not yet in the court file. Consequently, Justice Omotosho remanded Mamman in custody until Friday’s hearing.
Mamman pleaded not guilty to the 12-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The charges include allegations of conspiring with ministry staff to divert N22 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects. The EFCC’s investigation revealed that the funds were used to acquire luxury assets both domestically and internationally.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested in 2021, approximately four months after his removal from office. His bail application, dated July 11, cited Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, along with sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015. He highlighted that he had been on administrative bail for over two years without violating any conditions set by the anti-graft agency, urging the court to exercise discretion in his favour and promising to be available for trial.
