…..To file a no-case submission
By Anthony Ochela, Abuja
A former Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman, on Thursday, informed a Federal High Court in Abuja of his intention to file a no-case submission in a charge of alleged complicity in fraud filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Counsel to the ex- minister, S.T. Abba, disclosed this shortly after the EFCC had closed its case with its 17th witness, (PW17), Abubakar Gabdo.
EFCC had alleged that the defendant conspired and used bank accounts of various private companies to siphon funds from the coffers of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
Specifically, the EFCC had alleged that it discovered multiple suspicious transactions traced through various corporate accounts of Bureau de Change operators.
Some of the corporate accounts belonging to Breathable Investment, Fullest Utility Concepts, and Golden Bond Nigeria Ltd.
At the day’s proceeding, Abubakar Gabdo, the EFCC’s witness told the court that the former minister is not the owner or a signatory in those companies when the question was put to him by the defence counsel.
The former Minister has since denied the allegations that he has any relationship with the companies in question.
Earlier, speaking under cross- examination, Abubakar Gabdo admitted that seven other persons- Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Micheal Achua, Ogunjobi Olusola-are in charge of the Mambila Zungeru Special Project Account which is domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Gabdo said Mustapha Abubakar Bida was the Chief Account Officer of Mambila Zungeru Special Project Account, who gives a final approval.
The witness admitted that it was Mustapha Abubakar Bida that gives the final approval because as it relates to the Mambila Zungeru Special Account niether the Permanent Secretary nor the Minister has authority to disburse.
In addition, Gabdo told the court that from documentary evidence before the commission, some of the payments were made before the defendant was appointed as the Minister of power.
He equally admitted that even after Mamman’s exit in 2021, some of the companies are still receiving large sum of money from Mambila Zungeru Special Project Account which is domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The witness said the EFCC investigation on the Zungeru Mambila power project issue started from 2017 to 2023, while the defendant was appointed Minister of Power on 2019 and exited in 2021.
The witness confirmed that from 2019 Fullest Utility Concepts Limited, have received large sums of money while also Platinum Touch Enterprise received millions of naira from October 2021.
That same Fullest Utility Concepts Limited received large sums of money in 2022.
He told the court that in one single day, about 18 transactions in payment were made to Platinum Touch Enterprise in 2021.
Gabdo admitted that companies like Silverline Ocean, Gurubce Limited, Royal Perimeter Ventures all received large sum of money at different period.
After his evidence, the prosecution counsel, A.O. Mohammed informed the court that he has closed the case of the prosecution against the defendant.
It was at this stage that the defendant counsel, S.T. Abba announced that his client will file a no-case submission.
Justice James Omotosho, thereafter, adjourned the case to November 27, for adoption of written addresses.
