Alleged N33.8bn Manbilla Project fraud: Proceeds used to Purchase Abuja Properties – Witness

Abubakar Kweido, First Prosecuting witness, PW1 in the trial of a former Minister of Power,  Saleh Mamman,  on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, told a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja before Justice James Omotosho that the former minister allegedly used funds from the Mambilla Hydro project’s account to purchase Abuja properties.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC is prosecuting Mamman on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-Three Kobo).

During Wednesday’s proceedings, Kweido, an operative of the EFCC while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN said investigation activities showed that some funds released to the former minister were used to purchase properties in Kado Estate and Wuse 2, Abuja.

“We invited and presented the findings of the investigation to the minister, which he acknowledged and responded to in the presence of his lawyer. He denied connection to all the alleged properties, stating that one Maisbahu Idris who was his Personal Assistant usually received money from the Project Accountant of the Mambilla Hydro project to share with his staff in the ministry.

“We went ahead to conduct a search in the minister`s house and we recovered some foreign currencies in cash. We also recovered the CAC documents of Abangus Nig. Ltd whose investigation revealed that the company was one of the entities used by the minister to facilitate the diversion of funds from the project account of Mambilla”, he said.

Payment Vouchers for Bangus Nig. Ltd and Exhibit Form for some cash recovered at his residence were tendered and admitted in evidence.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to October 23, 2024 for continuation of trial.