A FEDERAL High Court in Abuja has adjourned further hearing in the post-conviction proceedings in the ₦33.8 billion case involving former Power Minister, Saleh Mamman, to June 24.
News Point Nigeria reports that the court’s schedule, Mamman’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, is expected to appear to clarify aspects of an affidavit he filed in which he allegedly made claims against the trial judge.
The Wednesday adjournment followed submissions by another defence lawyer, Suleiman Yakubu, who informed the court that Ahmed was indisposed and unable to attend proceedings.
Mamman was previously convicted on May 7 on all counts in a 12-count charge and sentenced to 75 years imprisonment in absentia.
Following the conviction, the court ordered his arrest, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) eventually apprehended him in Kaduna, producing him before the court on May 26.
The court subsequently ordered that he be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre, where he is to serve his sentence.
On the same May 26 sitting, the prosecution informed the court of a motion seeking forfeiture of newly discovered assets allegedly linked to Mamman.
However, before the application could be heard, defence counsel reportedly left the courtroom without notice, prompting an adjournment to June 8.
The assets listed in court filings by the EFCC include Walijam Apartments at No. 43, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited at No. 5 Amana Crescent, New Estate Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; a mansion at No. 11 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; another mansion at No. 13 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A. Plaza at Plot 734 Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
At the June 8 proceedings, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) reminded the court that the day’s business was the hearing of the motion for consequential forfeiture of the properties belonging to the convict.
However, Justice James Omotosho drew attention to a counter-affidavit filed on behalf of the defendant, deposed to by Mohammed Ahmed, in which it was allegedly claimed that the May 7 judgment was delivered when the judge “became enraged.”
Oyedepo said he had not been served with the affidavit and the judge thereafter directed Yakubu, who appeared for the defendant, to immediately provide a copy to the prosecution.
The judge also ordered that Ahmed, who deposed to the affidavit, must appear in court on June 10 to explain the contents of his sworn statements.
But Ahmed was absent on that date. His colleague, Yakubu, told the court he was ill.
Yakubu, while apologising for leaving court abruptly on the previous date, claimed Ahmed had been ill for some time, stating: “He has been coughing, and we don’t know if it is tuberculosis because the cough has defied all drugs.”
He further said Ahmed had travelled to his village for treatment and pleaded for an adjournment.
The judge questioned how Yakubu arrived at a tuberculosis conclusion, to which he responded that Ahmed’s condition persisted despite medication.
The explanation drew criticism from prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, who expressed dissatisfaction with the defence conduct.
“This is what we kept complaining about. We are counsel in the temple of justice, my Lord. I don’t know when I started experiencing a bitter part of my colleagues in this matter,” Oyedepo said.
He added that the motion was already ripe for hearing and accused the defence of employing delay tactics.
“These tactics will not work,” he said, before ultimately agreeing to the adjournment now fixed for June 24.