Former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has filed a notice of appeal with the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, seeking to overturn his conviction on 12 counts of an alleged N33.8 billion fraud that led the Federal High Court, Abuja, to impose consecutive prison terms totalling 75 years. The appeal, dated 26 May 2026, was submitted by his legal team headed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Atteh.
The appeal is based on 18 grounds, the most prominent being that Mamman’s right to a fair hearing was breached when the High Court delivered its judgment on 7 May 2026 in his absence, despite an earlier adjournment that set a new judgment date of 9 June 2026. His counsel argues that this contravenes Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which guarantee the right to be present at one’s trial.
Additional grounds include the claim that the trial judge barred Mamman’s subpoenaed witness, Abdulkareem Ozi Ibrahim, from testifying while permitting the prosecution to reopen its examination‑in‑chief of the same witness after the case had been closed for cross‑examination. The defence also contends that the conviction relied heavily on uncorroborated accomplice testimony, that judgments were entered on counts 7 to 12 without a plea being taken, and that the court erred in finding that funds from the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects were diverted for Mamman’s personal use, noting that those funds were held by the Central Bank of Nigeria and overseen by the Office of the Accountant‑General of the Federation.
Mamman’s lawyers further allege that key findings were based on hearsay, that documentary evidence was ignored, and that the court improperly shifted the burden of proof onto him regarding the source of funds used to purchase a property at No. 12 Lungi Street, Wuse II, Abuja. They also challenge the admission of his extra‑judicial statements, citing non‑compliance with Sections 15 and 17 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and assert that the trial judge displayed bias, resulting in a miscarriage of justice.
The appeal follows a separate development in which Justice James Omotosho struck out an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) application seeking the forfeiture of properties linked to Mamman. The motion, filed under the EFCC Act, 2004 and related statutes, was withdrawn on 29 July 2026 after prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed indicated the withdrawal was prompted by Mamman’s appeal. Mamman’s family and legal representatives have criticised the speed of the original judgment and raised concerns about disputed documents, witness contradictions, disclosure issues and what they describe as weak evidentiary links, urging the appellate court to scrutinise the case thoroughly.
<small>Source: The Sun Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
