An EFCC investigator has told the court that former Power Minister, Saleh Mamman, gave his statements freely without being forced or threatened. This came up during a mini-trial to decide if those statements should be allowed as evidence in court.

EFCC officer Abubakar Kwaido said the former minister made several statements on different days, and each one was done in the presence of his lawyer or trusted friends. He told the court that Mamman was not pressured at all during questioning.

Kwaido said he was shocked by claims from Mamman’s defence that the former minister was threatened. He pointed to video clips that showed Mamman smiling along with his lawyer, suggesting that everything was done peacefully.

He added that Mamman either wrote or dictated the statements himself. He confirmed that the statements were made between May and August 2023 at EFCC’s office.

Kwaido gave a list of dates and mentioned the names of lawyers or friends who were with Mamman during the statement sessions. For example, on May 11, Mamman’s lawyer P.A. Aderungi was present. On other dates, other legal representatives or business associates joined him.

He also mentioned that on August 3, Mamman was with his business partner, Rabiu, and on August 9, he came with Suleiman Yusuf.

The EFCC has filed 12 charges against Mamman, including conspiracy and money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion. The money is said to be connected to the Mambilla Power Project.

However, Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Atteh, claimed that the statements were made under pressure and should not be accepted by the court. But the lead EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, disagreed and said the statements were valid.

After hearing both sides, the judge, Justice Omotosho, decided to accept the statements as evidence. The case has been postponed until Friday, June 27, 2025, for further questioning.