Ex-minister remains in custody nine days after N10bn bail
A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, arraigned for N33bn fraud, has spent nine days at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
Mamman was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on July 12 and was granted N10bn bail by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Checks by our correspondent on Sunday showed that nine days after being granted bail, Mamman remained in custody, indicating that he had yet to meet the record N10bn bail imposed on him by the court.
The spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service in the Federal Capital Territory Adamu Duza, confirmed to our correspondent that the ex-minister was still in custody as of Sunday evening.
“He has yet to meet his bail conditions, hence, he’s still in custody,” Duza said.
Mamman, who served as minister under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was brought before Justice Omotosho on July 12 in drenched clothes.
His lawyer, Femi Ate (SAN), told the judge that his client collapsed on the court premises and had to be revived by medical personnel just before the case was called for hearing.
He pleaded not guilty when the 12 counts were read to him in court.
The judge granted him N10bn bail with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Omotosho said the two sureties must have landed property worth N750m within the jurisdiction of the court.
The sureties must also present an affidavit of means and three years of tax evidence which would be verified by the court registrar.
Justice Omotosho added that the sureties must produce a passport photograph each while Mamman must submit his passport to the court registry.
He ordered that Mamman be returned to Kuje Correctional Centre pending when he perfected his bail and adjourned the trial till Sept. 25 for trial.
