Former Minister of Power under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari Saleh Mamman was arraigned on Thursday in a Federal High Court in Abuja, but his case was halted due to illness.
Mamman, whose plea hearing was scheduled on Thursday morning, fell outside the courthouse before the case was called.
When Mamman was called to give his plea, Femi Ate, SAN, the former minister’s attorney, immediately informed Justice James Omotosho.
The former minister entered the dock and entered the courtroom as the hearing was about to resume, some of his garments soaked.
Judge Omotosho then inquired as to whether it was raining outside and whether Mamman was perspiring.
Responding from the dock, the former minister claimed that water was poured on him.
The attorney for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN addressed the court during her speech and stated that although Mamman’s arraignment was scheduled, there had been a development outside of the courtroom.
Olumide-Fusika said that he discussed Mamman’s poor health with Ate outside of the courtroom.
Speaking, Ate said Mamman, “upon being brought into the premises of the court, he collapsed and had to be resusitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”
He said his client was served with the charge after he was resuscitated.
The senior lawyer said he sought the understanding of Olumide-Fusika for an adjournment so that the arraignment could be done on Monday, when his client would have been okay.
But the judge said due to the workload in the court dockets, the arraignment could only be fixed for September ending.
Ate then withdrew the oral application for an adjournment.
Olumide-Fusika said he had just filed an amended charge earlier in the morning following a mistake in the name of the defendant and prayed the court that the fresh charge be read to Mamman to take his plea but Justice Omotosho disagreed with him.
The judge, however, asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea today, and he responded in the affirmative.
The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.
Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
“It can happen to anyone,” the judge said.
The ex-minister told the court that he called the attention of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the name in the charge served on him.
“I was complaining about the name, that it was not my own,” he said.
Justice Omotosho then stepped down the arraignment until 1pm today.
