In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in the sum of N10 billion.
Mamman is facing charges of N33 billion money laundering brought against him by the federal government.
The bail conditions set by Justice Omotosho require the bail bond to be endorsed by a reputable Nigerian bank. Should the defendant abscond from trial, the N10 billion would be forfeited to the federal government.
Alternatively, the former minister can produce two sureties, each providing N10 billion. These sureties must own properties worth at least N750 million within Abuja, with registered titles to be verified by the court registrar. They must also provide evidence of three years of tax payments.
Additional conditions include the surrender of international passports by Mamman and his sureties. Any foreign travel will require court approval.
The judge ordered that Mamman be remanded in Kuje prison until the bail conditions are met. Following the ruling, the visibly concerned former minister and his associates were reportedly working to fulfill the conditions to avoid detention.
Mamman, who served under former President Buhari from 2019 to 2021, was arraigned on Thursday, July 11, on a 12-count money laundering charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
As of the time of reporting, efforts were ongoing to meet the bail conditions. The case continues to draw attention as part of the government’s anti-corruption efforts.
