The First Defence Witness in the trial within trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 told a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho that his lawyer misrepresented him while taking his statements at the EFCC`s office.
Mamman is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).
At Wednesday’ proceedings, the defendant, who doubled as first defence witness while being led in evidence by his counsel Femi Atteh, SAN recalled that he went to EFCCs office on February 20, 2025 with his lawyer when EFCCs prosecutors interviewed him.
During cross examination by prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, He disclosed that he authorized his lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed to write his statements on his behalf which he signed but accused him of fabricating some portion of the statements, claiming that he was not sure if all he said was what his lawyer wrote.
When asked to identify from the statement exhibits the fabricated portion of the statement, he added that he couldn’t remember.
He however confirmed that as at the time of his invitation, there was no maltreatment, threats of imprisonment on the part of EFCC officials.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to July 15, 2024 for adoption of written addresses.
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