Ex-Power Minister Mamman Allegedly Spent N20 Million on Resort Lodging, Witness Tells Court

A retired Colonel and third prosecution witness, Adebisi Adesanya, has testified in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, disclosing that N20 million meant for the Mambilla Hydro Power Project was allegedly spent on a year’s lodging at a resort.

Testifying before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, Adesanya, who owns Sami Court Resort Limited, confirmed that Mamman paid the sum for a serviced apartment at his facility. Mamman is currently facing a 12-count charge from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for conspiracy and money laundering involving N33.8 billion.

Breakdown of Payments:
Adesanya revealed the following payments made to the resort’s United Bank for Africa (UBA) account for Mamman’s stay from August 2021 to August 2022:

• ₦5 million deposited by Golden Bond Nigeria Limited (September 6, 2021).
• ₦5 million deposited by Mintedge Nigeria Limited (January 23, 2022).
• ₦2.5 million deposited by Abdullahi Suleiman (March 9, 2022).
• ₦7.5 million deposited by A.I.J Global Tools Limited (May 10, 2022).

Adesanya described Sami Court Resort as a service apartment offering long-term lodging where guests only need to bring personal belongings.

EFCC’s Focus on Transactions:
The EFCC questioned Adesanya regarding these payments, which were traced to Mamman. Adesanya confirmed issuing invoices, including “Exhibit PWC,” as proof of the N20 million transaction covering the stated period.

Next Steps:
Justice Omotosho adjourned the case to January 13, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.