A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Thursday, July 11, collapsed outside the courtroom at a Federal High Court, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mamman, whose plea was fixed for Thursday morning, collapsed outside the courtroom before the case was called.
The former minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, told Justice James Omotosho shortly when he was called to take his plea.
Upon resumed hearing, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his clothes drenched.
Justice Omotosho then asked why Mamman was sweating, pressed to know whether it was raining outside.
The former minister responded from the dock that he was soaked with the water that was poured to resuscitate him.
Speaking, Ate said Mamman, “upon being brought into the premises of the court collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”
The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom because of the drugs he took when he had not eaten, and while he was outside the courtroom waiting to be called, his blood pressure dropped.
Mamman, however, said he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had filed a 12-count money laundering charge against Mamman to the tune of N33 billion.
The former minister, who was arrested on May 10, 2021 in Abuja, was accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert about N22 billion.
Investigations uncovered property in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars had reportedly been recovered.
