The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, commenced the trial of ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, for an alleged N33.8 billion fraud with the presentation of its first witness.

Mamman was arraigned on Thursday, July 11, 2024 on 12 counts 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), a statement from the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Thursday, said.

At Wednesday’s proceedings, Prosecution witness One, PW1, Abubakar Kweido, an operative of the EFCC while being led in evidence by Adeyinka Olumide Fusika, SAN, narrated how investigation showed that multiple monetary transfers were made from the project account meant for Mambilla hydroelectric power project into various companies with the aid of bureau de change operators in foreign currencies, Naira and bank transfers to over 13 entities.

Kweido said his team found out that funds meant for the power plant were diverted through conspiracy by top officials in power. The funds, he said, were a loan granted to Nigeria by China’s Exim Bank and the period of the investigation was from 2019 to 2023.

He said, “At the time investigations were carried out, the defendant was the Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021. We commenced investigation by writing letters of investigation to different Ministries and Agencies of the Government and various commercial banks, the responses received reviewed that he authorized the payment to some contractors and companies using One Joint Venture of Tractebel and De- Crown Projects Ltd and Sino Hydro Groups.

“De-Crown projects Ltd was used as project consultant, Sino Hydro groups was the engineering procurement contractor. Our investigation revealed that huge amount of money from the project account of Mambila were sent to different entities that were not authorized on the project.

“We then wrote letters of investigation activities to Central bank of Nigeria and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation for Mambila and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects. We also submitted the Award Letters of the authorized contractors and we received response letters by the two authorized contractors, De- Crown Projects and Sino Hydro Groups.”
The letters and responses were tendered and admitted as PWA.

In addition, four letters from the Office of the Accountant General comprising account statements and responses were tendered and admitted in evidence as PWb2 and PWb3.

Continuing, he said, “When we analyzed the responses, we saw that over N33.8bn from the project account were sent to over 13 entities that are not the authorized contact, some of them are ‘Prymint Investment Ltd, Gurupche Business Enterprise, Shipikin Global Enterprises, Silverline Ventures, Intech Nigeria Ltd, Breathable Investment Ltd, First Class Contraction Ltd, Spinhillls Biz International Ltd, Fulex Utility Concept Ltd, Platinum enterprise among others’.

“We also requested for the bank record of the accounts from Corporate Affairs and other Commercial banks which revealed that persons behind the operation of these entities were mainly one Maina Goje, Abdulahi Suleiman and Abdulahi Garba.

“We invited them to account for the funds they received from the Mambila project account. They reported to our office where they informed us that they have never applied for any contract with the Federal Ministry of power or the Federal Government. They said they were bureau de change operatives. They also mentioned that all the monies received were disbursed based on the instructions of one Mustapha Abubakar Dida. The disbursements were usually in foreign currencies, Naira cash and sometimes via bank transfers.”

He revealed that Mustapha Dida was the Project Accountant of Manbilla Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects and they denied knowing him or the boss. He said they claimed one Mrs Bawo Idris – whom they referred to as Yaro – was the only person they had physical contact with.

He said, “So we invited Mrs Bawo Idris, she volunteered her statement where she mentioned that she was the personal assistant to the defendant as at that time.“She also informed us that she also received instructions from the defendant for disbursement which is from his First Bank and GTB accounts. Also, one of the accounts that received money from the project account is Sammie Court Resource Ltd. We contacted them and their managing director which he reported and informed us that the said payments were for rentage of one bedroom apartment.

“He also informed us in writing that the defendant was the one using the apartment. Some other accounts that benefited include Vintage Nigeria Ltd, Abdulahi Suleiman, Fullest Utility Concept, First Class Contraction and Project, Golden bond Nig Ltd, AIJ Global, Usman Isah, Abdulkareem Danladi.”

The matter was adjourned to October 9, 2024 for continuation of trial.