Today, July 11, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, there was a moment of tension when Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power during the Buhari administration, collapsed shortly before his scheduled court appearance.
Mamman, who held office from 2019 to 2021, faces charges of money laundering amounting to N33 billion related to his tenure. His legal issues began in May 2021 when he was arrested by the anti-graft agency in Abuja and subsequently dismissed from his ministerial position by President Buhari in September of the same year. Allegations against Mamman include misappropriation of funds from projects under his ministry, with substantial amounts reportedly recovered during investigations, along with properties linked to him in Nigeria and abroad.
Before his case was called, Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho that his client had collapsed upon arrival at the court premises and had to receive medical attention from the court’s medical personnel. Despite this, Mamman was served with the charges after he regained consciousness.
Ate requested an adjournment until the following Monday, citing Mamman’s health condition, which was not immediately granted due to the court’s heavy docket. Consequently, the arraignment was tentatively rescheduled for the end of September, but Ate later withdrew the adjournment request.
Meanwhile, the EFCC prosecutor, Olumide-Fusika, mentioned an amended charge filed that morning due to an error in the defendant’s name. He sought to have the corrected charge read to Mamman immediately, but the judge disagreed.
Justice Omotosho then directly asked Mamman if he felt well enough to proceed with the arraignment that day, to which Mamman affirmed, explaining that his collapse was due to medication on an empty stomach.
The arraignment was temporarily postponed until 1 pm for further proceedings.
