Ex-minister Mamman bought Abuja house with N200m cash, witness tells court
A Federal High Court in Abuja has heard that former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, allegedly paid the dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for a five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja.
The revelation came during Mamman’s ongoing trial, where he faces charges of money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion.
Mohammed Ashelk Jidda, the 14th prosecution witness and the initial owner of the property, testified before Justice James Omotosho that Mamman personally delivered the cash payment.
“The minister came to my office with Mohammed Hussein and two other persons to pay me the money. We had discussed that they would bring naira, but they arrived with dollars. We counted the money and handed over the property,” Jidda told the court.
“The document was signed between my company, Mohibat Investment Limited, and Mohammed Hussein, as instructed by the minister. Initially, Bitrus informed me that the minister was the buyer. It was the minister who directed me to sign with Mohammed Hussein.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Mamman on a 12-count charge related to the Mambilla Power Project.
According to an EFCC press release issued by the Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, a real estate agent involved in the transaction, Samson Bitrus, also testified.
He corroborated Jidda’s claim, stating, “The purchase price was N200 million, and the defendant paid in dollars. The property owner received the money and counted it to confirm it was complete.”
Bitrus further testified that he managed the property for Mamman after the purchase, collecting rent and remitting it to accounts provided by the former minister.
“After the search, we met the owner of the property and concluded the transaction by paying the purchase price. The property was at No. 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2,” Bitrus told the court.
“The name of the seller is Jidda. When we went to the seller’s place, the ex-minister came with his friend, I think his name is Mohammed Hussein,” he said
A compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, Umar Abbatilde, also presented evidence detailing financial transactions in Bitrus’s account, showing inflows and subsequent outflows to Mamman’s account.
“While confirming transactions on Bitrus’s account, he revealed that there was an inflow of N5.5 million from Firststar Limited on June 26, 2020, and an immediate outflow to Mamman Nasir Ademu on the same day,” Oyewale’s statement detailed.
The EFCC alleges that Mamman conspired to commit money laundering in connection with the Mambilla Power Project.
The trial has been adjourned until March 18 and 19, 2025 for further hearings.
