A witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-minister paid the dollar equivalent of ₦200 million in cash for a five-bedroom property in Wuse 2, Abuja.
Mamman is facing a 12-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged ₦33.8 billion fraud linked to the Mambilla Power Project.
The witness, Mohammed Jidda, a businessman and former owner of the property, testified before Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday. According to Jidda, Mamman visited his office on Gimbya Street, Garki, Abuja, accompanied by Mohammed Hussein and two others to complete the transaction.
“We initially discussed payment in naira, but they came with dollars instead. We counted the money, finalized the agreement, and handed over the property,” Jidda said.
The EFCC presented documents supporting the transaction, which were admitted as evidence.
More Witnesses Testify
Another witness, Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent, testified that he helped Mamman secure the property. He confirmed that Mamman personally inspected it and made sure there were no legal issues before purchasing it in 2019.
“The minister and his associate, Mohammed Hussein, came to finalize the deal. The total purchase price was ₦200 million, which was paid in dollars,” Bitrus stated.
Bitrus further revealed that after the sale, he managed the property on Mamman’s behalf, collecting rent and transferring the proceeds to an account provided by the former minister.
Financial Records Revealed
A Zenith Bank compliance officer, Umar Abbatilde, also testified, confirming financial transactions linked to Mamman. He detailed a series of money transfers between accounts, including:
₦5.5 million transferred on June 26, 2020
₦6 million deposited on August 11, 2022
₦10 million inflow on September 14, 2022, followed by a ₦3.75 million withdrawal
Additional ₦10 million deposit on September 24, 2022
By November 2, 2022, the account balance had dropped to ₦26,964, after withdrawals of ₦10 million, ₦4 million, and ₦2.8 million to Mamman’s UBA account.
Next Court Hearing Set for March
Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until March 18 and 19, 2025, for further proceedings.
Mamman, who served as Minister of Power from 2019 to 2021, was arrested in May 2023 and has since been under EFCC investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering.
The case remains under trial as the EFCC continues to present evidence against the former minister.
