The defendant in the trial within trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman has accused his own lawyer of fabricating some portion of his statement, claiming that he was not sure if all he said was what his lawyer wrote.
Penpushing reports that Mamman who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering to the tune of N33,804,830,503.73 made this known to the court.
The Head, Media and Publicity of the agency, Dele Oyewale said in a statement made available to Penpushing Media said the first defence witness told the presiding judge Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja that his lawyer misrepresented him while taking his statements at the commission’s office.
Penpushing further reports that Oyewale stated that at the Wednesday’ proceedings, the defendant, who doubled as first defence witness while being led in evidence by his counsel Femi Atteh, recalled that he went to the agency office on February 20, 2025 with his lawyer when the commission prosecutors interviewed him.
The statement added that during cross examination by prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo, the first defence witness disclosed that he authorized his lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed to write his statements on his behalf which he signed but accused him of fabricating some portion of the statements, claiming that he was not sure if all he said was what his lawyer wrote.
Penpushing also reports that when asked to identify from the statement exhibits the fabricated portion of the statement, he added that he couldn’t remember, he, however, confirmed that as at the time of his invitation, there was no maltreatment, threats of imprisonment on the part of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials.
Meanwhile, the Head of Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the statement added that the presiding judge adjourned the matter to July 15, 2024 for adoption of written addresses.
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