₦33.8bn Mambilla Project: EFCC Investigator Details How Ex-Minister Mamman Made Confessional Statements

Published June 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM

By ireporteronline Staff

An official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abubakar Kwaido, on Thursday testified before a Federal High Court in Abuja that former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, made multiple confessional statements to the EFCC voluntarily and in the presence of his legal counsel.

Kwaido, appearing as the first prosecution witness in a trial-within-trial before Justice James Omotosho, debunked claims by the defence that Mamman was coerced into making the statements. He said the former minister was neither threatened nor intimidated at any time.

“I was surprised to hear that he was threatened. As the videos shown in court indicate, Mamman and his lawyer were smiling. He gave all his statements personally—either written or dictated—and always in the presence of his lawyers or close associates,” Kwaido stated.

The EFCC investigator outlined that Mamman was interrogated and made statements on May 10, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 19, as well as August 3 and 9, 2023. Each of those statements, Kwaido emphasized, was given in the presence of trusted individuals.

For instance:

On May 11, Mamman was accompanied by P.A. Aderungi.
On May 12, by P.A. Adewuyi and Aliyu Musa.
On May 15, he was with Muzzarril Yahaya.
On May 17, with Umar Yunusa.
On May 19, with Paul Adetako.
On August 3, he came with his business associate Rabiu.
On August 9, he was accompanied by Suleiman Yusuf.

Mamman, who served under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, is facing a 12-count charge filed by the EFCC. The charges are linked to alleged conspiracy and money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion related to the controversial Mambilla Power Project.

Mamman’s legal representative, Femi Atteh, SAN, had challenged the admissibility of the statements, alleging they were obtained under duress. However, the lead EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, maintained that the statements were made voluntarily and should be accepted as valid evidence.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Omotosho admitted the statements into evidence and adjourned proceedings to Friday, June 27, 2025, for continuation of cross-examination.