Fresh details have emerged on how a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, allegedly escaped from Abuja to Kaduna after he was convicted and sentenced to 75 years imprisonment over a N33.8bn fraud case.
A relative of the ex-minister, Shamsudeen Mohammed, disclosed this on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Abuja while proceedings continued in the matter instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mamman was earlier convicted in absentia on May 13 after he failed to appear in court for the conclusion of his trial bordering on fraud and money laundering allegations.
The court had found him guilty of diverting public funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
Although his legal team initially claimed ignorance of his whereabouts, the former minister was later arrested by EFCC operatives at a hideout in Kaduna State.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Mohammed told the court that Mamman fled Abuja in a chartered taxi shortly after his conviction.
According to him, the former minister was in Abuja when judgment was delivered but travelled to Kaduna two days later.
He added that the convict was battling health challenges and relied on traditional medication while in hiding.
“I was helping him with traditional treatment. He was transported from Abuja to Kaduna in a taxi,” Mohammed told the court.
The witness also stated that he was unaware of the owner of the apartment where the former minister allegedly hid in the Rigasa area of Kaduna, noting that the property was rented.
Mamman, who appeared subdued in court, told Justice James Omotosho that ill health was responsible for his absence during the trial.
However, the judge dismissed his plea for leniency and reminded him that his jail term had already commenced.
“You were in Abuja when judgment was delivered and later left for Kaduna in a taxi. Your sentence begins from today,” the judge said.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered the EFCC to transfer the former minister to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja to begin serving his sentence.
The anti-graft agency also sought a court order for the forfeiture of five additional properties allegedly linked to the convict.
The EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the properties included luxury apartments, mansions and a commercial plaza located in Abuja and Kaduna.
But the court deferred hearing on the forfeiture application after observing that the convict was not represented by counsel during the proceedings.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter until June 8 to allow Mamman secure legal representation and respond to the application.
The former minister was convicted on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering and sentenced to various jail terms, which the court ordered to run consecutively.
The court also ordered him to refund N22bn to the Federal Government and forfeited several assets and foreign currencies traced to him.
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