A Bureau de Change (BDC) operator has disclosed receiving over ₦22 billion from the Federal Ministry of Power, linking the ministry and its former head, Saleh Mamman, to an alleged ₦33.8 billion fraud. The revelations emerged during Mamman’s trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting the case, presented its eighth witness, Abdullahi Suleman, a BDC operator. Suleman testified about how the funds were funneled from the ministry during Mamman’s tenure as Minister of Power.
In a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Odewale, Suleman explained how the naira equivalent of the funds was converted to U.S. dollars using multiple business accounts linked to him.
Suleman noted that companies under his control, such as Prymint Investment Limited and Strong Field International Projects Limited, were used to facilitate these transactions. However, no services were rendered, and no contracts were executed for the payments.
He further testified that the funds were moved through 12 accounts, including one belonging to his brother’s company, Gurupche Business Enterprises. “From my rough calculations, the amount I received through the transactions exceeds ₦22 billion,” Suleman stated in court.
Suleman also recounted his interactions with an individual named Maina Goje, who coordinated the transactions and instructed him to convert funds into dollars.
According to Suleman, Goje often sent a man nicknamed “Yaro Minister,” said to be close to Mamman, to facilitate these dealings. Suleman also named Mustapha Mohammed, a Federal Ministry of Housing official, as someone who occasionally issued instructions regarding the funds.
“The prosecution presented bank statements detailing the flow of funds through Suleman’s companies, revealing that a notable transactions was ₦285.9 million received on May 24, 2021.
“Another deposit of ₦320 million was made on January 1, 2021, followed by ₦184 million on June 18, 2021. Additionally, ₦178.3 million was transferred on July 14, 2021.
“Subsequent payments included ₦75.4 million on August 5, 2021, and ₦64.7 million on February 16, 2022”, the statement reads.
During the trial, a compliance officer from FCMB submitted additional bank statements tied to Suleman’s companies, which were admitted into evidence as Exhibit XTUB.
Mamman is facing a 12-count charge brought by the EFCC, including conspiracy and money laundering amounting to ₦33.8 billion. The commission alleges that Mamman masterminded a scheme to divert public funds through these illicit transactions.
The trial has been adjourned to Thursday, January 23, 2025, for further proceedings.
