The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N10 billion bail to the former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, who was remanded in prison custody over his alleged complicity in a N33 billion fraud.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, July 12, 2024, by Justice James Omotosho.
The conditions for Mamman’s release from prison custody are that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in Abuja, valued at at least N750 million, and submit their three-year tax clearance certificate and an affidavit of means.
ALSO READS:
- SANWO-OLU SIGNS LAGOS ELECTRICITY BILL
- NNPC Committed to Advancing Local Content in Nigeria’s Energy Sector
- TCN Restores Bulk Power Supply via Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Line
- NAE, STAC Marine celebrate one year of partnership, sign Pact for Safety
- Hybrid Group graduates 15 HSE trainees in Lagos
The court, in a ruling that was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, granted the defendant, who is answering a 12-count charge, bail to the tune of N10 billion with two sureties in the like sum.
Both Mamman and the sureties must also submit certified copies of their bank statements and recent passport photographs. The defendant’s international passport was ordered to be surrendered to the court’s registrar.
The court allowed for an alternative option of a bank guarantee or bond in the sum of N10 billion.
Mamman’s legal team, led by Femi Ate, SAN, had applied for bail on liberal terms, citing the defendant’s cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his two-year administrative bail.
The EFCC, represented by A. O. Mohammed, did not oppose the bail request but sought conditions ensuring Mamman’s attendance at his trial.
It held that the defendant should remain in prison custody, pending the perfection of all the bail conditions.
The case was subsequently adjourned until September 25 for a hearing.
His bail application, dated July 11, was anchored on the provisions of Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015.
The defendant told the court that he was on administrative bail for over two years, saying he never violated any of the conditions the anti-graft agency handed to him.
While praying the court to exercise its discretion in his favour, the erstwhile minister said he would always be available for his trial, adding that he had reliable persons that would stand surety for him.
He further assured the court that he would not interfere with or influence any of the witnesses billed to testify against him in the matter.
