JUST IN: Ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman Collapses Outside Abuja Courtroom Amidst Money Laundering Charges

Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, collapsed outside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday due to ill health. The incident occurred just before his scheduled plea hearing for money laundering charges.

Eyewitnesses reported that Mamman, whose case was to be called in the morning, suddenly collapsed outside the courtroom. His counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho about his client’s health condition shortly after the session began.

The court session saw the ex-minister entering the courtroom visibly drenched, prompting Justice Omotosho to inquire about the state of his attire. Mamman explained that water was poured on him after he collapsed to revive him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Mamman on a 12-count charge of money laundering, alleging involvement in offenses amounting to N33 billion. The EFCC’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, confirmed the incident outside the courtroom and discussed Mamman’s ill health with Ate.

Ate recounted the incident to the court, noting that Mamman had to be resuscitated by medical personnel at the Federal High Court. He requested an adjournment of the arraignment to Monday to allow Mamman to recover fully. However, due to the court’s busy schedule, Justice Omotosho could only reschedule the arraignment to late September.

Despite the initial request for adjournment, the judge proceeded to ask Mamman if he felt fit to continue with the hearing, to which Mamman affirmed. He attributed his collapse to taking medication on an empty stomach, leading to a drop in blood pressure.

Mamman’s legal team also highlighted an error in the EFCC’s charges regarding his name, which was acknowledged and corrected by the court. The arraignment was then postponed until 1 PM on the same day.

Mamman served as Minister of Power from 2019 until 2021 and was sacked as part of a cabinet restructuring by Buhari. The EFCC’s investigation alleges that Mamman conspired with ministry staff to divert N22 billion from major hydroelectric power projects, uncovering properties and significant funds linked to the suspects both in Nigeria and abroad.