ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The arraignment of Saleh Mamman, the former Minister of Power under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, was delayed on Thursday after he collapsed outside the courtroom of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Mamman, scheduled to enter his plea that morning, collapsed before the proceedings began.
Reports that Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho shortly after the incident occurred.
When Mamman eventually entered the courtroom, he appeared visibly affected, with his clothes partly soaked.
Justice Omotosho inquired about Mamman’s condition, noting his visible perspiration, and Mamman responded from the dock, stating that water had been poured on him.
Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), addressed the court, explaining that Mamman’s arraignment, although scheduled for that day, was disrupted due to the incident and discussions about Mamman’s health outside the courtroom.
He said: “I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learned senior advocate to tell the honourable court himself.”
Speaking, Ate said, “Mamman upon being brought into the premises of the court, he collapsed and had to be resuscitated and treated by the medical personnel of the Federal High Court.”
He revealed that his client was served with the charge after he was resuscitated.
The senior lawyer said he sought the understanding of Olumide-Fusika for an adjournment so that the arraignment could be done on Monday when his client would have been okay.
However, due to the heavy workload in the court’s schedule, the judge informed that the arraignment could only be scheduled for the end of September.
Ate subsequently withdrew the oral request for an adjournment.
Earlier that morning, Olumide-Fusika had filed an amended charge due to an error in the defendant’s name. He requested the court to read the corrected charge to Mamman for him to enter his plea, but Justice Omotosho disagreed.
The judge then asked Mamman if he felt well enough to proceed with entering his plea that day, to which Mamman affirmed.
The former minister explained to the court that he collapsed outside the courtroom due to medication on an empty stomach, causing his blood pressure to drop while he was waiting to be called.
Despite this, Mamman asserted he was ready to proceed with the arraignment.
“It can happen to anyone,” remarked the judge.
Mamman also informed the court that he had alerted his lawyer to an error in the name on the charge served to him by the EFCC.
Subsequently, Justice Omotosho adjourned the arraignment until later today.
