N31bn fraud: Mammam’s name not in bank accounts, documents

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

Two prosecution witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), have confirmed that the name of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, did not appear in any of the account opening packages, signatory mandate and statement of accounts of the companies linked to the alleged N31bn fraud.

Already, Justice Maryam Anineh of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has admitted in evidence, documents of account opening packages, signatory mandate, statement of accounts for transactions on various accounts and certificate of identification regarding the affected companies.

The companies are: Spinhills Biz International Limited, Silverline Ocean Ventures Limited, Beaver Builders Limited, Gurupche Business Enterprise, Breathable Investment Limited, First-class construction Project limited, Royal Perimeter Ventures, Dannywest Limited, Dorino Bright Limited, Sipikin Global Ventures Limited, and Fullest Utility Concepts Limited.

Mamman and seven others, namely, Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua and Ogunjobi Olusila are standing trial on a nine-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, false pretence and intent to defraud to the tune of N31bn.

However, the prosecution witnesses did not establish that Mammam Saleh owned the companies, served as directors or exercise control over them.

Furthermore, exhibits tendered by the EFCC showed that the transactions in questions occured both before his appointment as Minister and after he left office.

Earlier in his evidence in chief before the court, Umar Abba, a Compliance Officer with the Zenith bank, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN presented account opening packages, signatory mandate, statement of accounts for transactions on various accounts and certificate of identification regarding the affected companies.

In his testimony, he said that sometime around March, 2025, the EFCC wrote to his bank to provide those documents which were generated from his computer system and were supplied to the Commission.

The documents were tendered in evidence with no objection and marked Exhibit A1-A4, ,B1-B4,C1-C4.

During cross examination, counsel to the former minister (1st defendant), asked the witness whether the name of Engr. Saleh Mammam was in any of the banking documents of the listed companies, he answered that his name was not there.

He was further asked whether the former minister was a board of director or a share holder of the mentioned companies, he answered in the negative.

In her own evidence, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Leadu Kpandei, a compliance officer with Guarantee Trust Bank (Gtb), tendered accounts opening packages, signatory mandate, statement of accounts for transactions on various accounts and certificate of identification in respect of Fullness Utility Concepts Limited.

Led in evidence by the prosecution witness, A.O. Mohammed, Kpandei told the court that sometimes in March 2025, her bank received a letter from the EFCC requesting for the account opening packages, signatory mandate, statement of accounts for transactions on various accounts and certificate of identification in respect of Fullness Utility Concepts Limited.

She told the court that Guarantee Trust Bank responded via a letter dated March 13, 2025, attaching all the requested banking documents, which she generated from the bank data base, accompanied by a certificate of compliance in line with the provisions of section 84 of the Evidence Act.

Although some of the defence counsel reserved their objection to the admissibility of the documents to address stage, Justice Anenih admitted same in evidence and marked as exhibits E1-E4 respectively.

Under cross-examination by counsel to Saleh Mammam, Suleiman Yakubu, the witness told the court that his name was not in any of the bank documents and that he is also not a signatory to the account.

Kpandei further admitted that the former minister was not a shareholder or a director of Fullest Utility Concepts Limited.

The banker who was equally cross-examined by counsel to other defendants, said the names of their clients was not in the account opening package of the company.

She however, added that only the EFCC investigators can determine the extent of their involvement in the transactions.

In the proceedings so far, the prosecution’s witness confirmed that he does not know the former minister personally.

They equally established that none of the companies whose banking documents were tendered was linked to him or to any proxy acting on his behalf.

The Special Project Account from which the disputed transactions allegedly originated is domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria, where the former minister reportedly had no signatory authority.

Other counsel in the matter are Eyitayo Fatogun SAN who appeared for the 2nd defendant, Teslim Adodu (3rd defendant): Ikechuku Maledo (4th defendant); Ajibila Bello (5th defendant); Chijioke Onyeneke (6th defendant); H.I. Iheme (7th defendant) and H.A. Adeleke for the 8th defendant.

Meanwhile the matter has been adjourned to April 16 and May 11 and 14 for continuation of trial.