Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama Division, Abuja, has fixed June 9, 2026, for judgment in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who is facing allegations of large-scale financial misconduct.
Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering amounting to ₦33.8 billion. The case forms part of broader anti-corruption efforts targeting alleged abuse of public office.
At the resumed hearing, defence counsel Femi Atteh, SAN, told the court that the defence had met all procedural requirements, having filed its final written address on April 1, 2026, along with a reply to the prosecution’s submission. He urged the court to consider the totality of the evidence and discharge and acquit the defendant, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove the essential elements of the charges.
In response, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, confirmed that the prosecution filed its final written address on April 14, 2026. He asked the court to convict Mamman on all counts, maintaining that the evidence presented was both direct and corroborative.
Highlighting key aspects of the case, Oyedepo argued that funds were traced from a government account to a Bureau de Change, whose operator allegedly testified to delivering cash to the defendant’s residence. Additional testimony, he said, came from an associate of the defendant who claimed to have received funds on Mamman’s instructions.
Following the adoption of final written addresses by both parties, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter for judgment, marking a critical stage in a trial that has attracted significant public attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and Mamman’s former position in government.
In a related development, Justice Maryann Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, had earlier admitted additional documentary evidence against Mamman in a separate but ongoing case also prosecuted by the EFCC. In that matter, Mamman and seven co-defendants are facing a nine-count charge involving allegations of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and intent to defraud, totaling over ₦31 billion.
During those proceedings, a prosecution witness, Leadu Kpandei, a compliance officer with Guaranty Trust Bank, testified that the EFCC requested account details of Fullest Utility Concept Ltd in March 2025. She stated that the bank provided account opening documents, identification records, and transaction statements as part of its cooperation with investigators.
The June 9 judgment date is expected to bring closure to one of the high-profile corruption cases currently before the court.