By Nkechi Eze
As part of the investigation and prosecution, the Tenth Prosecution Witness, PW10, Mifbahu Idris in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 told a Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho how he received the sum of N777,538 (Seven Hundred and Seventy-seven Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-eight Thousand Naira) in cash and transfers from bureau de change operators between 2019 and 2021 on the instructions of the defendant who also directed how they were spent.
Dele Oyewale the commission’s spokesperson disclosed in a signed statement that Idris, nephew and special assistant to Mamman, while been cross-examined by defence counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, disclosed while reading his extra-judicial statement to the EFCC on April 17, 2023 that the sum were wired from different accounts owned and operated by Maina Goje and Abdulahi Suleiman who are bureau de change operators, which he allegedly disbursed to friends, family members, associates and for payment for household utilities on the instructions of Mamman.
Earlier on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, the witness had during his examination-in-chief led by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, testified that Mamman was his uncle and that he worked with him for two years in the Federal Ministry of Power, Abuja and that he also knew Mr Abubakar Bida, who works in the ministry too.
According to him, “there was a day Abubakar Bida called me on phone, 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.”
Testifying further, he said “I usually receive money from Maina Goje and Abdulahi Suleiman based on the 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 said.
He confirmed his statement of account with GTB marked exhibit PWq, when it was shown to him and confirmed receiving N10million through it on August 26, 2021. He also confirmed receiving the sum of N10million through the same account on April 1, 2023, from Sharifiddin Global Enterprises on behalf of Saleh Mammah and he allegedly spent the money based on the defendant’s instructions.
He also confirmed receiving money from FirstKlaz’s Construction Projects, Mintage Nigeria Limited, Spinhills Biz International, Fulest Utility Concepts and Silverlines Adventures which are accounts owned and operated by the bureau de change operators, Maina Goje and Abdullahi Suleiman.
He further confirmed from his account statement that he received the sum of N10million on August 26, 2021, N10 million on April 16, 2022, and N1million from Silverline on April 10, 2022.
Furthermore, he disclosed that he received another N1 million, on May 22, 2022, another N1million from Suleiman Abdulahi on May 7, 2022, another NImillion from Silverline Adventures all of which he said he spent on the instruction of the defendant.
The witness further confirmed that he refunded the sum of N190million to the EFCC, which he said was given to him by Mamman.
The Eleventh Prosecution Witness, (PW11), Goje Maina, while also giving his testimony narrated how he delivered cash to the former minister in his Maitama, Abuja’s residence .
“I used 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, N25million or N30million 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,” he said
The matter was adjourned till March 4, 5,17 and 18 2025 for continuation of trial.
Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC 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).
