Saleh Mamman, the former Minister of Power, has been in custody for nine days at Kuje Correctional Centre following a high-profile fraud case. Mamman, accused of involvement in a N33 billion fraud, was granted bail set at an unprecedented N10 billion by the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 12.
Despite the bail decision, Mamman has yet to meet the conditions required for his release. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges against him, leading to his court appearance where Justice James Omotosho presided over the case.
Efforts by our correspondent on Sunday confirmed that Mamman remains behind bars. The Nigeria Correctional Service’s spokesman for the Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Duza, stated, “He has yet to meet his bail conditions, hence, he’s still in custody.”
During the court proceedings, Mamman arrived visibly unwell. His lawyer, Femi Ate (SAN), revealed that Mamman collapsed at the court premises and required medical attention before the hearing. Despite this incident, Mamman pleaded not guilty to the 12 counts read against him.
Justice Omotosho set stringent bail conditions: Mamman was granted bail at N10 billion with two sureties. Each surety must own property valued at N750 million within the court’s jurisdiction, provide an affidavit of means, and show evidence of paying taxes for three years. Additionally, the sureties are required to present passport photographs, while Mamman must surrender his passport to the court registry.
Given these rigorous requirements, Mamman remains at Kuje Correctional Centre until he can fulfill the bail conditions. The next court date for the trial is scheduled for September 25.
