The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N10 billion bail to the former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, who was remanded in prison custody over his alleged complicity in a N33 billion fraud.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, July 12, 2024, by Justice James Omotosho.
The conditions for Mamman’s release from prison custody are that the sureties must be owners of landed properties in Abuja, valued at at least N750 million, and submit their three-year tax clearance certificate and an affidavit of means.
Both Mamman and the sureties must also submit certified copies of their bank statements and recent passport photographs. The defendant’s international passport was ordered to be surrendered to the court’s registrar.
The court allowed for an alternative option of a bank guarantee or bond in the sum of N10 billion.
Mamman’s legal team, led by Femi Ate, SAN, had applied for bail on liberal terms, citing the defendant’s cooperation with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his two-year administrative bail.
The EFCC, represented by A. O. Mohammed, did not oppose the bail request but sought conditions ensuring Mamman’s attendance at his trial.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was arrested in 2021 and faces a 12-count charge for allegedly conspiring to divert N22 billion meant for power projects, acquiring assets both within and outside Nigeria.
The former Minister, who pleaded not guilty to the charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him, had, through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Femi Ate, SAN, begged the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms.