…as judge orders his transfer to Kuje prison

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, gave the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the nod to transfer the convicted former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, to Kuje prison.

Mamman was on May 13 sentenced to 75 years in prison for stealing public funds totaling about ₦33.8 billion.

The convict was sentenced in absentia after he jumped bail and failed to appear before the court for the conclusion of his trial.

Even though his legal team denied knowledge of his whereabouts, he was subsequently apprehended at his hideout in Kaduna State.

Meanwhile, the EFCC on Tuesday produced him before the court, which had issued a warrant for his arrest.

During the proceedings, a man, Shamsudeen Mohammed, who identified himself as a relative of the former Minister, exposed how the convict fled Abuja in a chartered taxi.

Mohammed revealed that although the ex-Minister was in Abuja within the period he was convicted, he escaped to Kaduna State two days after he was sentenced.

He, however, added that Mamman was very sick and needed medical attention, which he could not receive from a hospital for fear of being arrested.

“I was helping him to take his traditional medicine. He was brought by taxi from Abuja to Kaduna,” the convict’s relative added.

Mohammed told the court he did not know the owner of the apartment where Mamman hid in Rigasa, Kaduna State.

“I don’t know the owner of the apartment. It was a rented one,” he stated.

On his part, Mamman, who looked solemn in the dock, told the court that he stayed away from the proceedings because he was battling ill health.

His attempt to plead for leniency was rebuffed by trial Justice James Omotosho, who took time to recap the court’s judgment for him.

Afterwards, Justice Omotosho drew the convict’s attention to the fact that his 75-year jail sentence would start to run immediately after the proceedings.

“The sentence starts to run from today. You were in Abuja when the judgment was passed.

“You left alone in a taxi to Kaduna. I have done my work. I just have to inform you because today is the commencement of your sentence.

“I will read the judgment for you to know why the conviction and sentencing were done,” Justice Omotosho stated.

He ordered the EFCC to hand over the convicted former Minister to the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje, Abuja for the commencement of his jail term.

Furthermore, the EFCC applied for a consequential order for the forfeiture of five new properties it said were traced to the convict.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the assets, which are in Abuja, are: Walijam Apartments, located at No. 43, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited, located at No. 5, Amana Crescent, New Estate Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; a mansion at No. 11 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; a mansion at No. 13 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A. Plaza, situated on Plot 734 Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

However, because the convict had no legal representation during the proceedings, Justice Omotosho said he would, in the interest of justice, defer the hearing of the application to enable him to secure the services of a lawyer of his choice.

“For the forfeiture of additional properties, the court will grant an adjournment for hearing to enable the convict to defend himself,” the trial judge held.

Mamman told the court that he had not been in contact with his counsel since he was arrested and taken into custody by the EFCC on May 19.

Justice Omotosho directed that he should be personally served with a copy of the forfeiture application, and slated June 8 to hear it.

The court had convicted Mamman on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering charges the EFCC preferred against him.

He was handed seven years each on 10 counts of the charge, and jailed for three years and two years on counts four and five respectively.

Justice Omotosho held that the sentences should run consecutively without the option of a fine, except on count four, for which he allowed the payment of a ₦10 million fine.

The court ordered the forfeiture of various foreign currencies recovered from the convict, as well as four choice properties in Abuja traced to him.

It directed the convict to repay to the national treasury the sum of ₦22 billion meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.

The forfeited properties included a four-bedroom duplex at Kado District, Abuja; two semi-detached houses; and another building located in the Wuse District, Abuja.

(The Nation)

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