The former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman reportedly collapsed shortly before his case was called at Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

Saleh, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2019 to 2021, is standing trial over 12 counts of money laundering totaling N33 billion.

On May 10, 2021, Mamman was arrested and detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja.

He was sacked by Buhari on September 1, 2021 after being accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.

During the investigations, properties in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects were uncovered, while millions of naira and dollars were recovered.

As he was called for his arraignment on Thursday morning, the former Minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, informed the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, that his client had collapsed.

“Upon being brought into the premises of the court, he collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court,” Ate told the court

Ate stated that his client was served with the charge after he was resuscitated. The senior lawyer sought the understanding of Olumide-Fusika who is the EFCC's counsel in the matter, for an adjournment to continue the arraignment on Monday next week when his client would be in a better capacity.

The judge mentioned that due to the workload in the court dockets, the arraignment could only be fixed for the end of September.

The former Minister's counsel 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 to 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 medication he took on an empty stomach, and while he was waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.

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

“It can happen to anyone,” the judge said

The ex-minister informed the court that he had brought to his lawyer’s attention the error made by the EFCC in the name on the charge served to him.

“I was complaining about the name, that it was not my own,” he said

Justice Omotosho then postponed the arraignment until 1 pm on Thursday.