The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Friday, admitted former power minister Saleh Mamman to a N10 billion bail with two sureties.

Justice James Omotosho, in a ruling on Mr Mamman’s bail application moved by his counsel, Femi Ate, held that alternatively, the former minister should enter into a bond or agreement of N10 billion with a bank.

The judge held that the sureties must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Omotosho also held that the sureties’ property, which must have title registers, must be worth N750 million.

Moreover, the judge said the sureties must present an affidavit of means and three years of tax evidence, which the court registrar would verify. He ordered sureties to produce a passport photograph each while Mr Mamman submitted his international passport to the court registry.

Justice Omotosho, who ordered Mr Mamman to remain in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail, adjourned the matter until September 25 for trial.

Justice Omotosho had, on Thursday, ordered the remand of the ex-minister in the correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

The judge gave the order after Mamman pleaded not guilty to a 12-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offences. 

Upon hearing the bail application on Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s lawyer, A.O. Mohammed, did not oppose Mr Mamman’s bail plea.

Delivering the ruling, the judge said granting bail is the defendant’s constitutional right, which must be exercised judicially and judiciously.

He said the defendant is innocent until proven guilty by law.

EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mr Mamman. 

He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to N33 billion.

The former minister served under then-President Buhari from 2019 to 2021.

On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

Mr Buhari had, on September 1, 2021, sacked Mr Mamman and then-agric minister Sabo Nanono in what was called a cabinet restructuring.

Mr Mamman was accused of conspiring with the ministry staff in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert billions of naira.

The investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars had reportedly been recovered.

(NAN)