A former Minister of Power who is facing a 12-count charge related to an alleged conspiracy to commit money laundering amounting to N33.8 billion, Saleh Mamman, has accused his lawyer of misrepresentation.

Mamman, who was arraigned on July 11, 2024, was accused of siphoning public funds through unauthorised entities during his oversight of power projects, including the Mambila and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant initiatives.

An investigation into these allegations commenced in 2024. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement released on Thursday, provided an update on Mamman’s ongoing trial.

“The First Defence Witness in the trial within trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman on Wednesday, January 22, 2025 told a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice James Omotosho that his lawyer misrepresented him while taking his statements at the EFCC`s office,” the statement read in part.

The former power minister told the court on Wednesday that he authorised his lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, to write his statements on his behalf during his visit to the EFCC office on February 20, which he signed. He also claimed that fabricating some portion of the statement, adding that he was unsure if all he said was what his lawyer wrote.

The court asked him to identify from the statement exhibits the fabricated portion of the statement, but he said he couldn’t remember.

The presiding judge, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to July 15  for adoption of written addresses.