The fourteenth prosecution witness who was called to testify against Saleh Mamman in court, Mohammed Ashelk Jidda, has revealed that the former power minister paid him dollars in cash for an Abuja property.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Mamman for conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 in relation to the Mambilla Power Project.
Different witnesses have been summoned by the court to testify in the trial of the former power minister.
Jidda, the 14th witness in the trial, is a businessman who owned the five-bedroom property located at No. 12a & b Lungi Street, Wuse 2, in Abuja, before he sold it to Mamman.
He told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday that the former minister had paid him a dollar equivalent of N200 million in cash for the purchase of the five-bedroom property in Wuse, Abuja.
While narrating the series of events that led up to the sale of the property, Jidda said Mamman, Mohammed Hussein and two other people came to his office to pay him in dollars even after they had discussed that he would receive his payment in naira.
“We discussed that they would bring naira, but they came with dollars. We counted the money and gave them the property.
“The document was signed between my company Mohibat Investment Limited and Mohammed Hussein as instructed by the minister,” Jidda told the court.
He tendered the deed of agreement to the court, which has been admitted by the court.
Samson Bitrus, another prosecuting witness and real estate agent, corroborated Jidda’s narration of the events.
Bitrus told the court that he was the agent who had helped the former minister purchase the property.
He added that he was introduced to the former minister by his business associate, Alhaji Dan Daura.
As he narrated, the former minister asked him to source property for him in 2019.
“After the search, we met the owner of the property and concluded the transaction by paying the purchase price. The property was at No. 12 Lungi Street, Wuse 2. The name of the seller is Jidda.
“When we went to the seller’s place, the ex-Minister came with his friend; I think his name is Mohammed Hussein. The purchase price was N200 million and the defendant paid with dollars,” Bitrus narrated.
A compliance officer with Zenith Bank plc, Umar Abbatilde, was also summoned as a prosecution witness after receiving a request from the EFCC asking for the account opening package, statement of account, and certificate of identification of account belonging to Bitrus.
Abbatilde made these available to the court.
The presiding judge, Justice Omotosho, adjourned the matter till March 18 and 19 for further hearing.
