Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to April 13, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.
The adjournment followed a ruling by the court barring the defence from recalling a subpoenaed witness who had earlier testified for the prosecution.
During Thursday’s proceedings, defence counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, sought to have Abdulkareem Ibrahim Ozi testify as a defence witness, despite the fact that he had previously appeared as the prosecution’s second witness (PW2) and had been cross-examined before being discharged.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the request was procedurally improper, holding that a witness who had already testified and been discharged could not be recalled in such a manner without a formal written application. He noted that while the defence was not foreclosed from further cross-examining the witness, due process must be followed.
Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, opposed the application, describing it as strange and an abuse of court process. He argued that the witness had already tendered documents and been cross-examined, and that the defence had been provided with relevant materials during the prosecution’s case.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho discharged the witness from the box and directed that any intention to recall him must be pursued through a properly filed application on notice.
Following the court’s decision, the defence announced it had closed its case.
Mamman is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering involving ₦33,804,830,503.73.
In a related development earlier this year, Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal High Court in the FCT had criticised elements of the defence strategy in a separate proceeding involving Mamman and seven others over alleged fraud amounting to ₦31 billion.