A former Minister of Energy, Saleh Mamman on Thursday collapsed outdoors the courtroom at a Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja.
Counsel to the previous minister, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho when he was referred to as to take his plea, that his shopper, whose plea was mounted for Thursday morning, collapsed outdoors the courtroom previous to his case being referred to as, Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
When he made it will definitely into the courtroom, the ex-minister stepped into the dock with a part of his garments drenched.
Justice Omotosho then requested why Mamman was sweating, pressed to know whether or not it was raining outdoors.
The previous minister responded from the dock that he was soaked with the water that was poured to resuscitate him.
Counsel to the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, whereas addressing the courtroom, mentioned although the matter was mounted for Mamman’s arraignment, there was a growth outdoors the courtroom.
Olumide-Fusika mentioned he had a dialogue with Ate outdoors the courtroom about Mamman’s in poor health well being.
“I used to be knowledgeable of an incident outdoors. I’ll need my learner senior advocate to inform the honourable courtroom himself,” he mentioned.
Talking, Ate mentioned Mamman, “upon being introduced into the premises of the courtroom collapsed and needed to be resuscitated and handled by the medical personnel of the Federal Excessive Courtroom.”
He mentioned his shopper was served with the cost after he was resuscitated.
“He was served this morning,” he added.
The senior lawyer knowledgeable the courtroom that he sought the understanding of the EFCC’s counsel for an adjournment in order that the arraignment may very well be performed on Monday when his shopper would have been okay.
Nevertheless, the choose mentioned, because of the workload within the courtroom dockets, the arraignment might solely be mounted for September ending.
Ate then withdrew the oral software for an adjournment.
Olumide-Fusika mentioned he had simply filed an amended cost earlier within the morning following a mistake within the title of the defendant and prayed the courtroom that the contemporary cost be learn to Mamman to take his plea however Justice Omotosho disagreed with him.
The choose, nevertheless, requested Mamman if he was match sufficient to take his plea and he responded in affirmative.
The previous minister defined to the courtroom that he collapsed outdoors the courtroom due to the medication he took when he had not eaten, and whereas he was outdoors the courtroom ready to be referred to as, his blood stress dropped.
Mamman, nevertheless, mentioned he was match to proceed with the arraignment.
“It may possibly occur to anybody,” the choose mentioned.
The ex-minister informed the courtroom that he referred to as the eye of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the title within the cost served on him.
“I used to be complaining in regards to the title, that it was not my very own,” he mentioned.
Justice Omotosho then stepped down the arraignment till 1 pm.
LEADERSHIP recollects that the EFCC had filed a 12-count cash laundering cost towards Mamman to the tune of N33 billion.
The previous minister was arrested on Could 10, 2021 and was detained on the headquarters of the anti-graft company in Abuja.
Former President Buhari sacked Mamman and the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Improvement, Sabo Nanono, in what was referred to as a cupboard restructuring in 2021.
Mamman was accused of conspiring with workers of the ministry answerable for the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electrical Energy tasks to divert about N22 billion.
Investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and abroad allegedly linked to the suspects, whereas tens of millions of naira and {dollars} had reportedly been recovered.
