A shocking revelation emerged at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, as Mohammed Ashelk Jidda, the 14th prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, testified that Mamman allegedly paid the dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for a luxurious five-bedroom property located in Wuse, Abuja
. This bombshell testimony forms part of Mamman’s ongoing trial, where he faces charges in a N33.8 billion money laundering scandal tied to the controversial Mambilla Power Project.
Jidda, the initial owner of the property, told the court that Mamman personally visited his office with Mohammed Hussein and two other individuals to make the payment.
Despite previous discussions to pay in naira, the group arrived with dollars instead. Jidda recalled, “We counted the money and handed over the property,” confirming that the payment was made in cash, in an unconventional and suspicious manner.
The court was also presented with a signed agreement between Jidda’s company, Mohibat Investment Limited, and Mohammed Hussein, as directed by Mamman. Interestingly, Jidda revealed that he was initially informed that Mamman was the buyer, but the minister later instructed that the contract be signed with Hussein.
The prosecution, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), further corroborated these claims with testimony from Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent involved in the transaction.
Bitrus confirmed the N200 million payment in dollars and stated that he had managed the property for Mamman post-purchase, including collecting rent and remitting the funds to accounts designated by the former minister.
Adding to the mounting evidence, Umar Abbatilde, a compliance officer from Zenith Bank Plc, testified about suspicious financial transactions involving Bitrus’s account.
He presented records showing N5.5 million inflows from Firststar Limited on June 26, 2020, followed by an immediate outflow to Mamman’s account on the same day. This was further proof of the financial web Mamman is alleged to have woven in connection with the Mambilla Power Project.
The EFCC accuses Mamman of conspiring to commit money laundering in connection with the Mambilla Power Project, one of Nigeria’s most high-profile and controversial infrastructure ventures.
As the trial progresses, these explosive revelations have placed the former minister under intense scrutiny, with the court adjourned until March 18 and 19, 2025, for further hearings.
This ongoing trial is set to shine a spotlight on corruption within Nigeria’s high echelons, with the public and the legal community eagerly awaiting the outcome.
