The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday, ordered the remand of former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman in the Kuje Correctional Centre, pending the hearing of his bail application.

Justice James Omotosho gave the order after Mr Mamman pleaded not guilty to a 12-count amended charge bordering on money laundering offences.

After the former minister took his plea, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) sought a date for the commencement of the trial.

However, Femi Ate (SAN), who appeared for Mr Mamman, informed the court of a bail application filed on behalf of his client.

Although Mr Olumide-Fusika admitted being served with the bail application around 12:30 p.m., Justice Omotosho said the application was not yet in the court’s file.

Mr Ate then prayed the court to be allowed to return the next day to argue the bail application.

The EFCC lawyer did not oppose the request, and the judge adjourned the matter until Friday for the bail application hearing.

Justice Omotosho, thereafter, ordered that the ex-minister be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre.

The arraignment, which was earlier fixed for Thursday morning, could not go on due to Mr Mamman’s ill health, and the matter was reopened till 1:00 p.m.

Mr Mamman was said to have collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.

The ex-minister, who entered the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his clothes drenched in the morning, said he was poured water when he slumped.

He explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.

The EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mr Mamman. He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.

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

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

Mr Buhari had, on September 1, 2021, sacked Mr Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, 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 about N22 billion.

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

(NAN)