Former Minister of Power under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Saleh Mamma collapsed at the Federal High Court premises on Thursday at the beginning of his trial for fraud.
Mamman, whose plea was fixed for Thursday morning, collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.
The former minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, told Justice James Omotosho that Mamma took ill shortly before he was called to take his plea.
Upon resumed hearing, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his clothes drenched.
Justice Omotosho was quoted as asking why Mamman was sweating or whether it was raining outside, while the accused stated that this was from the water poured on him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, while addressing the court, said though the matter was fixed for Mamman’s arraignment, there was a development outside the courtroom.
Olumide-Fusika said he had a discussion with Ate outside the courtroom about Mamman’s ill-health.
“I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learner senior advocate to tell the honourable court himself,” he said.
Speaking, Ate said Mamman, “upon being brought into the premises of the court collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”
The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.
Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
“It can happen to any one,” the judge said.
The ex-minister told the court that he called the attention of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the name in the charge served on him.
“I was complaining about the name, that it was not my own,” he said.
Justice Omotosho then stepped down the arraignment until 1pm today.
NAN reports that the EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman.
He was alleged to have committed money laundering offences to the tune of N33 billion.
The former minister served under former President Buhari from 2019 to 2021.
On May 10, 2021, he was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.
Buhari had September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono
He was thereafter accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
