ABUJA: A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that a former Minister of Power, under former President Mohamadu Buhari in the last dispensation Saleh Mamman, be remanded in Kuje prison in Abuja pending the consideration of his bail application.
Justice James Omotosho gave the order on Thursday after the court resumed Mamman’s arraignment on alleged money laundering charge of about N33 billion which was earlier stepped down by the judge.
The former minister, Salleh Mamman pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC).
The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against the former Minister of power. He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.
He however pleaded not guilty to all the counts after it was read to him while docked.
Defendant’s lawyer, Femi Ate (SAN), however informed the court that he filed a bail application after the matter was stood down earlier in the morning.
“I have filed a motion on notice this morning shortly after the proceeding was stood down,” he said.
However, the judge replied that the matter was stood down to take the defendant’s plea and not bail application.
But the defendant’s lawyer urged the court to hear his application. After listening to their submissions, the judge adjourned the matter till Friday July 12 for the hearing of the bail application.
Justice Omotosho also ordered that the former minister be remanded in Kuje correctional center.Abuja.the former minister served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021.
Salleh Mamman was taken into custody at the anti-graft agency’s Abuja headquarters on May 10, 2021. Buhari in Sept 1, 2021 sacked the former minister of power, Mamman and the then minister of Agriculture and rural development Alhaji Sabo Nanono in what He referred to as a cabinet reshuffle, .
