By Awwal Umar Kontagora The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, resumed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Federal High ...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, resumed on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja, with Justice James Omotosho presiding. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its eighth witness (PW8), Abdullahi Suleman, a bureau de change operator, who detailed how over ₦22 billion was allegedly funneled through his business accounts during Mamman’s tenure as minister.
Mamman faces a 12-count charge from the EFCC for conspiracy to commit money laundering, involving an alleged sum of ₦33,804,830,503.73.
During the proceedings, Suleman testified that funds from the Federal Ministry of Power were deposited into about 12 business accounts he controlled without any corresponding service or project execution. The accounts were associated with companies such as Prymint Investment Limited, Strong Field International Projects Limited, Mintedge Nigeria Limited, and others.
Suleman revealed that a fellow bureau de change operator, Alhaji Maina Goje, coordinated the transactions. "Maina Goje asked me to provide account numbers for his transactions. He would send money into the accounts, and I would exchange it for dollars. This arrangement continued from 2019 to 2024, involving over ₦22 billion by my rough calculations,” he said.
He further disclosed that Goje often sent an associate named Musbhu, nicknamed "Yaro Minister," to handle transactions on behalf of Saleh Mamman. Suleman also mentioned that he was introduced to Mustapha Muhammed, identified as Goje's superior at the Federal Ministry of Housing, who occasionally requested funds when Goje was unavailable.
The prosecution presented various exhibits, including bank statements from Suleman’s companies showing substantial transactions. These included payments of ₦285,983,285 on May 24, 2021, ₦320 million on January 1, 2021, and numerous others totaling billions of naira.
Additionally, a Compliance Officer from FCMB tendered bank statements in response to EFCC inquiries. The documents, admitted as Exhibit XTUB, provided evidence of the financial flows through Suleman’s accounts.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the trial to January 23, 2025, for further proceedings.
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