From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
For the third consecutive times, the trial of the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman has been stalled due to the absence of an interpreter for the proceedings.
Before this development, the EFCC presented its witnesses, who gave their testimony before the court went into a trial-within-trial.
Justice James Omotosho had, on March 19, paused the main trial to conduct a trial-within-trial following the defence counsel’s objection to EFCC move to tender a disputed statement credited to the former Minister.
The trial-within-trial is to determine if the disputed statement was made by the defendant from his free will.
Specifically, the prosecution was to tender the disputed statement dated February 20, 2024, through its 17th witness, when the defence counsel, Femi Atteh SAN, raised an objection to it’s admissibility, it was taken under duress.
It is expected that at the end of the video evidence currently been played in court by the EFCC, the defence counsel will kick start the cross- examination of the EFCC witness.
However, proceedings of May 2, 2025 were stalled by the absence of an interpreter in court.
On that day, when the case was called, the prosecution counsel, A O. Muhammed informed the court that though the matter was for continuation of trial-within-trial, however, he was experiencing difficulty in getting an interpreter.
He said he was informed that the official interpreter of the court was on an official engagement.
The prosecution counsel consequently requested for a short adjournment to enable the presence of an interpreter.
His oral application was not objected by the defence counsel, Emmanuel Hassan.
Accordingly, Justice James Omotosho adjourned further trial to May 8 and 9, 2025.
However when the case came up on Thursday, May 8, it was the situation as an interpreter was nowhere in the courtroom, forcing the Judge to stand down the matter to enable him attend to other cases on his cause list.
Justice James Omotosho however expressed concern over the seeming lack of tardiness by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in the matter.
“Where is the interpreter in the matter. Is he in court?” The judge asked.
“My Lord, he was in court but I did not see him again. I have been calling and he is not picking his call,” the prosecution counsel replied.
“I will stand down this matter. Infact, I would have adjourned this matter to June but for the respect I have for the learned senior advocate in court. But if I called the matter again and you are not ready, I will adjourn it to June,” Justice Omotosho warned.
“Thank you my Lord, I will go and look out for him,” the prosecution counsel appreciated.
It was after the matter was called for the second time that the prosecution counsel counsel, A.O. Muhammad produced an interpreter, but even at that, proceedings were cut short due the inefficiency of the interpreter to interprete from Hausa to English and vice versa.
The development further forced to court to adjourn proceedings to enable the EFCC to get an efficient interpreter.
But the situation did not changed on Friday, May 9 when the case came up.
This time, the prosecution counsel, A. O Muhammad informed the court that all efforts to get an interpreter were not successful.
“My lord, we challenge of securing an interpreter since yesterday and even today morning. We have related our challenge to the court.
“They are two interpreters but they are all not available. One has traveled for a wedding and the other is attending a seminar at the National Judicial Institute (NJI)”.
The lawyer consequently asked for an adjourned date to enable him get an interpreter.
Responding, the defence counsel, Femi Atteh SAN, said he appreciate the predicament of the prosecution counsel and would not be opposing the application for an adjournment.
Based on the agreement of counsel, Justice Omotosho further adjourned to June 26 and 27 for continuation of trial-within-trial
Mr Mamman is standing trial on 12 counts of conspiracy and money laundering involving N33.8 billion meant for the Mambilla Power Project.