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Despite fainting, judge remands ex-power minister in Kuje prison
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
A federal high court in Abuja has remanded Saleh Mamman, a former minister of power, in the Kuje correctional facility pending the hearing of his bail application.
On Thursday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Mamman on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering up to N33,804,830,503.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After the plea, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, counsel to the EFCC, sought the date for the commencement of the trial.
Femi Ate, counsel to the former minister, told the court that his client had submitted his bail application.
Olumide-Fusika responded that he was served with the bail application around 12:30pm today.
Afterwards, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to allow the bail application hearing the next day.
The EFCC counsel did not oppose the request.
In his ruling, James Omotosho, the trial judge, adjourned the bail application to Friday
MAMMAN COLLAPSED OUTSIDE COURTROOM
Before the court proceedings began, Mamman collapsed outside of the courtroom.
Mamman’s counsel informed the judge that his client had fainted due to ill health.
When the hearing resumed, the ex-minister entered the courtroom and the dock while his clothes were partly drenched.
The judge then asked Mamman why he was sweating or whether it was raining.
The former minister said water had been poured on him.
The former minister told the judge that he collapsed outside the courtroom due to the effects of some drugs administered to him without food.
He added that while waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.
Mamman told the court that he could take his plea after being asked by the judge if he was fit enough.
The judge, however, asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea, and he responded in the affirmative.
His counsel asked the court to allow him to return the next day to argue the bail application.
The EFCC lawyer did not oppose the request, and the judge adjourned the matter until Friday for the hearing of the bail application.
THE CASE
Mamman was appointed minister by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019. He was sacked in September 2021.
In May 2023, the former minister was arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged N22 billion fraud.
In the charge sheet seen by TheCable, the anti-graft agency alleged that Mamman conspired with officials at the ministry of power and some private companies to “indirectly convert” N33.8 billion, which was meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.
The EFCC alleged that Mamman was aided by one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of $655,700 without going through a financial institution
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Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.
Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.
For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.
THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.
He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.
There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….
A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.
The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.
News
Guber poll :PDP govs storm Edo to support Ighodalo
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Barely 24hours to governorship election in Edo State, no fewer than two governors elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday arrived Benin City.
The governors, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa and Kefas Agbu of Taraba, arrived the state to mobilise support for the party’s candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
Fintiri made this known in a post on his social media page on Friday evening.
He said : “Just touched down in Edo State alongside my brother, Gov. Agbu Kefas, ahead of the September 21st gubernatorial election. We stand united in support of our Official PDP Nigeria candidate, Asue ighodalo, for a brighter future.”
Edo governor, Godwin Obaseki, who is the PDP leader in the state, had earlier cried out over alleged plot by the All Progressives Congress to rig the election.
As at the time of filling this report, it was unclear if other PDP governors would also hit the state for the election
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