Concerned citizens say there’s conspiracy against ex-minister Sale Mamman in alleged N33.8b money laundering

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By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

Concerned citizens of Taraba State say there is conspiracy on allegation of N33.8 billion money laundering against former Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman.

This was contained in a statement in Jalingo on Saturday by the group and signed by its leader, Jacob Sunkani.

They argued that recent developments in the trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja, suggest the former minister of power could be exonerated.

According to the group, a revealing testimony arising before justice Omotosho, the presiding judge, indicates that the prosecution witness, Abdullahi Suleiman, a Bureau-de-Change operator, had claimed his companies received funds in different bank accounts, before and after Engr. Sale Mamman’s tenure as minister.

It will be recalled that the former minister is standing trial on a twelve-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering worth N33.8 billion preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

During cross-examination by Mamman’s defense counsel, Femi Ate (SAN), Suleiman, according to the supporters, admitted that his companies received payments both before and after Mamman’s tenure.

Documents presented in court, they said, “showed that funds were transferred to various entities, including Fullest Utility Concept, Platinum Touch Enterprise Ltd, and Silver Line Ocean Ventures, between 2018 and 2022, some of which, they claimed, occurred after Mamman left office on September 1, 2021.

“Suleiman further disclosed that he returned some funds, including N217 million and an undisclosed sum in U.S. dollars, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He stated that he had been informed by a third party, Maina Goje, that the EFCC was the intended recipient of the funds.”

Under re-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Suleiman admitted that the agency told him the payments originated from the Ministry of Power. However, he acknowledged that transaction descriptions did not explicitly link the funds to the ministry, instead referencing generic terms such as “federal MI being payment for office consumers.”

Further raising doubts, Suleiman denied knowing Engineer Sale Mamman personally or having any direct dealings with him. When questioned on how he associated the funds with Mamman, he stated that the EFCC had told him so.

Additionally, when confronted with the fact that some payments were made after Mamman left office, Suleiman admitted that he had handed over the money to the EFCC,” the statement read.

The group, noting that the revelations have fueled skepticism, particularly in Taraba State, argued that the funds in question were originally lodged at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by individuals who may have sought to scapegoat the Ministry of Power.

The supporters insist that if credible evidence exists against Mamman, it should be presented transparently rather than relying on what they describe as “speculative allegations.”