The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted the former Minister of Power, Mr Saleh Mamman, over allegations bordering on money laundering offences to the tune of N33. 8 billion.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgmemt, also issued a warrant of arrest against Mamman, who was conspicuously absent in court.
Justice Omotosho ordered that the ex-minister should be produced in court in the next adjourned date by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for sentencing.
The judge then adjourned the matter until May 13 for the defendant to be sentenced.
The order followed an application by EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, shortly after Mamman was found guilty of the 12-counts charge and convicted accordingly.
“We are very grateful my lord for the well delivered judgment.
“Section 352 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, particularly Sub 5, talks about the power of the honourable court to impose sentence when a defendant is arrested or surrendered himself to court.
“We therefore ask for arrest warrant and a date for sentencing my lord,” he said.
However, Mamman’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, begged the court for an adjournment to enable his client present himself.
But when the judge asked Ahmed when he felt the defendant could be contacted to appear in court, the lawyer said he would contact the ex-minister’s personal assistant.
“I delivered the judgment because you said you didn’t know how long it will take you to get the defendant and the court cannot continue to wait.
“This is an attempt to arrest the judgment.
“It is an attempt by counsel to arrest the judgment which the court will not fall into,” he said.
The judge then directed the parties to take a date for the sentencing but Ahmed restated that the defence team had been unable to reach their client.
“We will do our possible best to inform his P. A. my lord,” he said.
“So you don’t have access to him? And you want the court to adjourn until when?” the judge aaked.
Responding, Oyedepo said it was obvious that in view of Ahmed’s statement, he cannot get Mamman.
“Therefore, we will be asking for his arrest warrant. The defendant is now a convict my lord and we urge your lordship to issue the arrest warrant,” he said.
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Earlier, the judge delivered the judgment in Mamman’s absence.
In the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the EFCC had been able to establish the 12-count amended charge against the defendant beyond a reasonable.
“The prosecution has established that, at least, N22 billion naira was siphoned by the defendant and his cronies.
“This is sufficient to sustain the charge. Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted of Count 1 of the charge.
“The defence did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the evidence of the prosecution.
“Upon the unchallenged evidence of the prosecution, the court hereby convicts the defendant of Count 1 of the charge,” Justice Omotosho said.
