July 12, (THEWILL) – A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, granted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, bail in the sum of N10 billion with two sureties in like sum.
Mamman, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing 12 counts of money laundering to the tune of N33 billion preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was arrested in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office by the ex-president. The Commission, among other things, alleged that Mamman conspired with staff of the ministry to divert about N22bn that was meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.
Justice James Omotosho, on Thursday, adjourned until Friday, hearing on the bail application he filed through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Femi Ate, SAN, after pleading not guilty to the charges.
Ruling on the application on Friday, Justice Omotosho granted Mamman bail to the tune of N10 billion with two sureties in the like sum.
The court held that the sureties must be owners of landed properties within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, with a minimum valuation of N750 million.
It also ordered the sureties to submit their three-year tax clearance certificate and depose to an affidavit of means, adding that both the defendant and the sureties must submit certified copies of their bank statements with their recent passport photographs.
Justice Omotosho ordered Mamman to surrender his international passport to the Registrar of the Court. He held that the Registrar must verify all the documents before the defendant is released from custody.
In the alternative, the court said the sureties could submit a bank guarantee or bond in the sum of N10bn.
It held that the defendant should remain in prison custody, pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.
The case was subsequently adjourned to September 25 for hearing.
