Former Minister, Mamman Collapses Outside Courtroom As Money Launering Case Begins

Ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman,  collapsed due to ill health outside the courtroom on Thursday at the Federal High Court, Abuja

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Mamman, who was scheduled to enter his plea on Thursday morning, collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.

His counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho of the incident shortly after being called to take his plea.

When the hearing resumed, the former minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock, with part of his clothes drenched.

Justice Omotosho then asked why Mamman was sweating or whether it was raining outside.

The former minister, who responded from the dock, made it known that water was poured on him.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, while addressing the court, said though the matter was fixed for Mamman’s arraignment, there was a development outside the courtroom.

Olumide-Fusika said he had a discussion with Ate outside the courtroom about Mamman’s ill health.

“I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learner senior advocate to tell the honorable court himself,” he said.

Speaking, Ate said Mamman, “upon being brought into the premises of the court collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”

He said his client was served with the charge after he was resuscitated.

“He was served this morning,” he added.

The senior lawyer said he sought the understanding of Olumide-Fusika for an adjournment so that the arraignment could be done on Monday when his client would have been okay.

However, the judge said, due to the workload in the court dockets, the arraignment could only be fixed for September ending.

Ate then withdrew the oral application for an adjournment.

Olumide-Fusika said he had just filed an amended charge earlier in the morning following a mistake in the name of the defendant and prayed the court that the fresh charge be read to Mamman to take his plea but Justice Omotosho disagreed with him.

The judge, however, asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea today and he responded in the affirmative.

The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.

Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.

“It can happen to anyone,” the judge said.

The ex-minister told the court that he called the attention of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the name in the charge served on him.