Alleged N33.8bn Fraud: Ex-Power Minister paid Dollars for Abuja property — EFCC’s witness tells court

A witness presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, testified on Wednesday that the ex-minister paid him the dollar equivalent of ₦200 million in cash for a five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja.

The witness, Mohammed Jidda, made this disclosure before Justice James Omotosho at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Mamman is facing a 12-count charge from the EFCC related to the Mambilla Power Project, including conspiracy and money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion.

In a statement issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Jidda, a businessman and former owner of the property located at No. 12a & b Lungi Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, revealed that Mamman personally came to his office on Gimbya Street, Garki, Abuja, and made the payment in cash. The testimony was given while being led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

“The minister came to my office with Mohammed Hussein and two other persons to pay me the money. We discussed that they would bring naira, but they came with dollars. We counted the money and gave them the property. The document was signed between my company Mohibat Investment Limited and Mohammed Hussein as instructed by the minister. First, Bitrus told me that it was the minister that was buying the property. The minister was the one who instructed me to sign with Mohammed Hussein,” he said.

The statement said the witness identified and confirmed his extra-judicial statement in the EFCC and the deed of agreement when they were shown to him, following which they were tendered and admitted in evidence as PWd1 and PW d2, respectively.

Samson Bitrus, Prosecuting Witness, PW12, and a real estate agent in his testimony disclosed that he was the agent that aided Mamman in the purchase of the said property, the EFCC’s statement said.

EFCC also quoted Bitrus as saying that he was introduced to Mamman by his business associate, Alhaji Dan Daura and that sometime in 2019, the former minister asked him to source for a property for him and to ensure thorough a check that any property he picked had no encumbrances.

“After the search, we met the owner of the property and concluded the transaction by paying the purchase price. The property was at No 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2. The name of the seller is Jidda. When we went to the seller’s place, the ex-minister came with his friend, I think his name is Mohammed Hussein. The purchase price was N200 million and the defendant paid with dollars. “The property owner received the money and counted it to confirm that it was complete. When we concluded the transaction, I cannot remember if the documents were signed that day, but the property was taken over with existing tenants in it,” he said.

Bitrus confirmed managing the property for Mamman after the purchase and collecting the rent and remitting into the account provided by Mamman.”

Prosecution Witness PW13, Umar Abbatilde, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank plc,  in his own testimony,  disclosed that he received a request from the EFCC asking for the account opening package, statement of account and certificate of identification of account belonging to Samson Bitrus which he said, he made available to the Commission.

While confirming the transactions on Bitrus’ account, he revealed that there was an inflow of N5.5 million from Firststar Limited on June 26, 2020, and an immediate outflow to Mamman Nasir Ademu on the same day.

Furthermore, he disclosed that there was an inflow of N6 million into the account on August 11, 2022 from Vestates Limited and an outflow of N5 million to Mamman Nasir Ademu.

On September 14, 2022, he said that there was an inflow of N10 million from Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor Sam & Partners and on the same day, a N3, 750,000 outflow from the same source.

On September 24, 2022, he said that there was an inflow of N10 million into the account and an additional N2.5 million, all from the same source.

According to him, the inflow continued on October 25, 2022, with N3 million from Mohammed Saleh Jemilah. As of November 2, 2022, the balance on Bitrus’ account he said, was N26,964.75 before it was depleted on the same day with an outflow of N10 million to Mamman’s UBA account and further depleted on November 3, 2022, and November 4, 2022 with an outflow of N4 million and N2.8 million, respectively to Mamman’s account.

Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till March 18 & 19, 2025 for further hearing.