A prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that the ex-minister paid him the dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for a five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja.

The witness, Mohammed Ashelk Jidda, testified before Justice James Omotosho on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. Mamman is currently facing trial on a 12-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) concerning the Mambilla Power Project. The charges include conspiracy to commit money laundering amounting to N33,804,830,503.73.

Jidda, a businessman and the original owner of the property at No. 12a and b Lungi Street, Wuse 2, Abuja, revealed that Mamman personally delivered the payment at his office on Gimbya Street, Garki, Abuja.

“The minister came to my office with Mohammed Hussein and two other persons to make the payment. We had initially agreed on naira, but they arrived with dollars. We counted the money, and the property was handed over. The document was signed between my company, Mohibat Investment Limited, and Mohammed Hussein, as instructed by the minister,” Jidda said.

He confirmed his statements made to the EFCC and identified the deed of agreement, which was admitted in evidence as exhibits PWd1 and PWd2.

Another witness, Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent who testified as Prosecution Witness 12 (PW12), stated that he facilitated the purchase of the property for Mamman. He explained that he was introduced to Mamman by his business associate, Alhaji Dan Daura, in 2019, when the former minister requested assistance in acquiring a property without legal complications.

“After searching, we found a suitable property, and the transaction was concluded at No. 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2. The seller, Jidda, received the payment in dollars, counted it, and confirmed the amount was complete. The former minister came to the meeting with his friend, Mohammed Hussein. I cannot recall if the documents were signed that same day, but the property was taken over with existing tenants,” Bitrus testified.

He also disclosed that he managed the property for Mamman after the purchase, collecting rents and remitting the payments into an account designated by the ex-minister.

Prosecution Witness 13 (PW13), Umar Abbatilde, a compliance officer with Zenith Bank Plc, testified that he provided the EFCC with transaction details related to Bitrus’ account.

He confirmed that on June 26, 2020, Bitrus’ account received an inflow of N5.5 million from Firststar Limited, which was immediately transferred to Mamman Nasir Ademu. Further transactions included N6 million received from Vestates Limited on August 11, 2022, with N5 million sent to Mamman Nasir Ademu. On September 14, 2022, N10 million was received from Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor Sam & Partners, followed by an outflow of N3.75 million. Additional inflows from the same source amounted to N12.5 million on September 24, 2022.

According to him, the inflow continued on October 25, 2022, with N3 million from Mohammed Saleh Jemilah. As of November 2, 2022, the account balance stood at N26,964.75 before being depleted the same day with a N10 million transfer to Mamman’s UBA account. Further outflows of N4 million and N2.8 million followed on November 3 and 4, 2022, respectively.

Following the testimonies, Justice Omotosho adjourned the case until March 18 and 19, 2025, for further hearing.