ABUJA— Trial of a former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, continued before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, with a witness, Mifbahu Idris, narrating how he received and spent over N777million based on instructions from the defendant.
Idris, who is the defendant’s nephew, testified as the 10th witness in the matter.
He told the court that he was a Special Assistant to the defendant who is answering to a 12-count charge that borders on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of about N33.8billion.
Giving his evidence before trial Justice James Omotosho, the PW-10, who was produced by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, told the court that he received over N777.5m between 2019 and 2021, both in cash and transfers, from Bureau de Change, BDC, operators, on the instruction of the defendant who directed how the funds were spent.
While being cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Mr. Femi Atteh, SAN, the witness, confirmed that in an extra-judicial statement he made to the EFCC on April 17, 2023, he stated that the money was wired from different accounts that were operated by two BDC operators- Maina Gone and Abdullahi Suleiman.
The funds were allegedly disbursed to friends, family members and associates of the former Minister, as well as for the payment for household utilities.
Earlier on Tuesday, the witness had during his examination-in-chief by prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that he worked with the defendant at the Federal Ministry of Power for two years, adding that he equally knew one Mr Abubakar Bida that also worked at the ministry.
According to him: “There was a day Abubakar Bida called me on phone and he introduced himself to me that Engineer Saleh Mamman said he should call me and that he will be calling me from time to time to meet one Maina Goje.
“He told me to go and meet Goje. Whenever I meet him, sometimes he will give me cash or transfer money, and he will say that this is for Oga.
“I will bring it to Saleh Mamman and hand it over to him. The cash can be in dollars and sometimes naira. He will say keep it with you, I will be telling you how to spend it.
“Sometimes, I use the money to buy foodstuffs, electricity units or send to his associates, friends and family based on his directives. I usually bring the money to his house.”
Continuing, the witness, said: “I usually receive money from Maina Goje and Abdulahi Suleiman based on instructions, using Saleh’s Mamman`s name.
“It was Mustapha Abubakar that asked me to collect the money on behalf of Saleh Mamman which I spent based on instructions. It was Maina Goje that introduced me to Abdulahi Suleiman.
“Sometimes, I will receive the money in my account or cash. Sometimes in naira, sometimes in dollars,” he told the court.
The witness also confirmed his statement of account with GTB marked exhibit PWQ, when it was shown to him.
He further confirmed that he received N10m through the account on August 26, 2021, another N10m on April 1, 2023, from Sharifiddin Global Enterprises, on behalf of Saleh Mammah.
He said the monies were spent as directed by the defendant.
More so, the witness confirmed that he received money from FirstKlaz’s Construction Projects, Mintage Nigeria Limited, Spinhills Biz International, Fulest Utility Concepts and Silverlines Adventures, which were accounts he said were owned and operated by the two BDC operators.
He further confirmed from his account statement that he received the sum of N10m on August 26, 2021, N10m on April 16, 2022, and N1m from Silverline on April 10, 2022.
Furthermore, he disclosed that he received N1m on May 22, 2022, another N1m from Suleiman Abdulahi on May 7, 2022, as well as another N1m from Silverline Adventures.
The witness said he refunded the sum of N190m to the EFCC, an amount he said was given to him by the defendant.
Shortly after he was discharged, the 11th witness, Goje Maina, mounted the box and told the court how he delivered cash to the former Minister at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
” I use to carry cash to the Minister’s house in Maitama and sometimes Mifbahu will come and collect the money.
“I can’t remember the number of times I have taken the money there, but there is a boy there that they gave me his number. Anytime I get there, the boy will come and I will open my car and give him the cash.
“The money sometimes was N20million, N25m or N30m or I will give him dollars in an envelope like $100,000 dollars.
“Mustapha Bida has never complained that they did not get the money,” the PW-11 added.
Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho has adjourned further hearing on the matter till March 4, 5,17 and 18.
The defendant had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge the anti-graft agency preferred against him.