Court orders lawyer of jailed ex-minister Mamman to appear

A Federal High Court judge in Abuja, James Omotosho, on Wednesday, told Mohammed Ahmed, the lawyer for convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to come to court. This order came after Mr Ahmed swore an affidavit saying the judgement that convicted Mamman was just an emotional outburst from the judge.

Judge Omotosho made this order after reviewing the affidavit of facts Mr Ahmed filed on 22 May.

Mr Ahmed must appear before the court on 24 June. This date is set for hearing in a post-conviction forfeiture case focused on assets that may be linked to Mr Mamman's crimes.

On 7 May, Judge Omotosho found the former minister guilty on all charges. He sentenced him on 13 May to 75 years in prison for money laundering involving public funds.

The judge had also issued an arrest warrant for Mr Mamman because he failed to show up in court multiple times, including during his conviction and sentencing.

On 19 May, after intelligence and surveillance operations, EFCC officers arrested Mr Mamman at his hideout in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State. They also took in one Shamsudeen Mohammed, a relative who was with him.

The EFCC brought him to court on 26 May. The judge ordered Mr Mamman to be taken to the Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja to start serving his sentence. On that same day, the judge set 8 June for a hearing on the EFCC's request to seize five more properties linked to him.

Judge Omotosho said he set this date for a fair hearing after learning that a defence lawyer had left the courtroom without telling the court or the prosecution.

The properties the EFCC wants to seize include Walijam Apartments at No. 43, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, and Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited at No. 5 Amana Crescent, New Estate Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State.

Other properties are a mansion at No. 11 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; a mansion at No. 13 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A. Plaza at Plot 734 Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

On 8 June, EFCC lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), who led the case that convicted the ex-minister, told the court they wanted permanent forfeiture of the properties linked to Mr Mamman.

Meanwhile, Judge Omotosho pointed out an affidavit from Mr Ahmed that said the 7 May judgement was given when the judge "became enraged".

But Mr Oyedepo said he had not received the affidavit. Then the judge ordered Suleiman Yakubu, who was representing Mr Mamman, to serve the prosecution with it.

The judge also said Mr Ahmed must come to court to explain parts of the affidavit. He postponed the matter until 10 June.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Mr Yakubu told the court that Mr Ahmed was not there because he was sick. He apologised for his absence.

"He has been coughing, and we do not know if it is tuberculosis because the cough has defied all drugs," Mr Yakubu said. He added that Mr Ahmed went to his village for treatment and asked for more time.

But the judge questioned the claim about tuberculosis. Mr Oyedepo also criticized the defence team’s actions and pointed out that lawyers should act properly in the justice system.

He said the prosecution's motion was ready for hearing and criticized the defence for not communicating. "But these tricks will not work," he said.

In response, Mr Yakubu said the remarks were unfair. He argued that it was wrong to imply there was bitterness in the defence team.

After reviewing what happened leading to the judgement, Judge Omotosho decided to give Mr Ahmed another chance to appear in court. He adjourned the matter until 24 June for the hearing of the EFCC motion and for the lawyer to appear.