Alleged N33.8bn Fraud: Ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman Voluntarily Gave Confessional Statements—EFCC Witness

In the ongoing trial-within-trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, the first prosecution witness, Abubakar Kwaido, has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the defendant voluntarily made confessional statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the presence of his lawyers and associates.

Mamman is facing a 12-count charge brought against him by the EFCC, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering amounting to N33,804,830,503.73—linked to the Mambilla Power Project.

Testifying before Justice James Omotosho, Kwaido, an EFCC investigator, stated that Mamman personally wrote and signed the statements on various dates between May and August 2023, without any coercion.

“The defendant gave his statements voluntarily and in the presence of his lawyers and other individuals he brought with him,” Kwaido said while being cross-examined by defence counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN. “I was surprised to hear he claimed he was threatened. As the court saw in the video footage, he and his counsel were even smiling.”

Kwaido detailed the circumstances surrounding each of the statements:

• May 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 19, 2023, and later on August 3 and 9, 2023
• Each taken in the presence of legal representatives including P.A. Aderungi, P.A. Adewuyi, Aliyu Musa, Muzzarril Yahaya, Umar Yunusa, and Paul Adetako
• Business associates such as Rabiu and Suleiman Yusuf were also present during some sessions

Despite objections from the defence regarding the admissibility of Mamman’s extra-judicial statements, Justice Omotosho ruled in favour of the prosecution after compelling arguments from EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN.

The case was subsequently adjourned to Friday, June 27, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.