A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has alleged that Saleh Mamman, the former Minister of Power, paid him ₦200 million for a property in Abuja.
Mamman is currently facing a 12-count charge of money laundering and conspiracy, alongside officials of the Ministry of Power and private companies.
The EFCC accuses him of misappropriating ₦33.8 billion originally allocated for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
At the time, Abubakar Kweido, an operative of the EFCC, said the investigation showed how multiple monetary transfers were allegedly made from the account meant for the Mambilla power project to bureau de change (BDC) operators.
Mohammed Jidda, a businessman, told the court on Wednesday that Mamman paid him a dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for the purchase of a five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja.
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Jidda, the initial owner of the five-bedroom property located at No. 12a & b Lungi Street at Wuse 2, said Mamman came to his office on Gimbya Street, Garki, Abuja, where he paid and witnessed the signing of an agreement for the property.
“The minister came to my office with Mohammed Hussein and two other persons to pay me the money. We discussed that they would bring naira, but they came with dollars,” he told the court.
“We counted the money and gave them the property. The document was signed between my company Mohibat Investment Limited and Mohammed Hussein as instructed by the minister,” he told the court.
“First, Bitrus told me that it was the minister that was buying the property. The minister was the one who instructed me to sign with Mohammed Hussein.”
Another witness, Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent, said he helped Mamman in the purchase of the said property.
Bitrus said he was introduced to Mamman by Dan Daura, a business associate, adding that in 2019, the former minister asked him to source for a property for him.
“After the search, we met the owner of the property and concluded the transaction by paying the purchase price. The property was at No 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2,” he said.
“The name of the seller is Jidda. When we went to the seller’s place, the ex-minister came with his friend, I think his name is Mohammed Hussein.
“The purchase price was N200 million, and the defendant paid with dollars. The property owner received the money and counted it to confirm that it was complete.
“When we concluded the transaction, I cannot remember if the documents were signed that day, but the property was taken over with existing tenants in it.”
James Omotosho, the presiding judge, adjourned the case till March 18 & 19 for further hearing