A Federal High Court in Abuja has directed former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to formally defend himself against allegations of laundering billions meant for major national power projects.
The decision marks a crucial shift in his ongoing corruption trial, sharpening public attention on the long-running probe into stalled energy infrastructure.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the ruling after rejecting Mamman’s no-case submission, insisting that the evidence already laid before the court was weighty enough to demand a response.
The judge stressed that the prosecution had established a prima facie case, which required the defendant to “offer clarifications on several unresolved issues”.
Moreover, the court reiterated that the ruling did not amount to a declaration of guilt. Justice Omotosho explained that Mamman remained innocent until convicted, adding that the directive only ensured that the defendant exercised his constitutional right to defend himself.
The case, which has drawn considerable national interest, stems from a July 2024 charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The anti-graft agency accused the former minister of conspiring with insiders at the Ministry of Power and private contractors to siphon ₦33.8 billion earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydropower projects.
Although Mamman pleaded not guilty, the EFCC presented 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits to support its claims before resting its case.
His lawyers argued in a no-case submission filed on November 19 that the agency failed to provide credible evidence capable of sustaining a conviction.
However, in its written address, the EFCC maintained that its witness testimonies and documentary evidence sufficiently established the need for Mamman to enter a defence.
“Our responsibility was to show that a case exists. We have done so,” an EFCC official familiar with the proceedings said, speaking after the ruling.
Justice Omotosho agreed, noting that the Constitution empowers every defendant to either rest on the prosecution’s case, open a defence or make a no-case submission.
Since Mamman’s submission failed, he must now explain the allegations directly. “A defendant’s right to defend himself is fundamental and cannot be brushed aside,” the judge said.
A legal analyst observing the matter remarked that the ruling was expected.
“Once the court considers the prosecution’s evidence strong enough to create questions, a no-case submission rarely succeeds,” he said.
“This stage simply clears the path for the defendant to narrate his side.”
Furthermore, the court reminded both parties that eloquent legal arguments cannot replace actual evidence when determining guilt or innocence.
Justice Omotosho emphasised that directing the defendant to mount a defence ensures fairness and strengthens the credibility of the judicial process.
The matter has been adjourned until February 23, 2026, when Mamman is expected to open his defence.
The next phase promises to shape the trajectory of a case that continues to spotlight Nigeria’s troubled power sector and the persistent struggle against high-level corruption.
This development deepens ongoing conversations on accountability in public office and keeps the spotlight firmly on whether long-delayed power projects will ever reach completion.