A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday declined an objection by the defence and ordered the continuation of trial in the case involving a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over alleged financial crimes.
Mamman and seven others, Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua and Ogunjobi Olusila — are standing trial on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, false pretence and intent to defraud, involving the alleged sum of
N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-three Kobo).
Justice Maryann Anenih’s decision follows an objection raised by counsel to the second defendant, Temitayo Sonuyi, SAN, who urged the court to suspend proceedings pending the determination of applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court and the validity of the charge.
She held that the application was not ripe for hearing, explaining that she had not had sufficient time to study the processes before delivering a ruling.
She maintained that the court could not afford to waste judicial time due to procedural lapses.
“I have listened to both parties; however, reading the prayers, I cannot take the prayers in the application when I have not seen or read it. It is not ripe for hearing at this point and the final process is not in the case file before me. I cannot come here and sit down and waste time for nothing to be done today. Counsel, please let’s proceed with the trial,” she said, adding that the ruling could be delivered on the next adjourned date.
Sonuyi had earlier informed the court of two applications filed on December 5 and 10, 2025, challenging the appropriateness of the charge and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the second defendant was served with a counter-affidavit on January 6, 2026. He added that he was ready to proceed with trial, noting that witnesses were already in court, and urged the court to hear the applications at a later date to avoid unnecessary delay.
Sonuyi sought leave to withdraw his affidavit in response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, stating that he would put his house in order.
Counsel to the sixth defendant, J. A. Egwaede, told the court that he had only been served with the prosecution’s counter-affidavit in court and requested an adjournment to enable him study the document and file a reply.
Justice Anenih, in her ruling, granted the adjournment in the interest of justice, noting that the court was duty-bound to hear and determine the jurisdictional challenge, as it would affect the proceedings of the case.
