A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday faulted attempts by defence lawyers to stall proceedings in the ongoing trial of Saleh Mamman, former minister of Power, over alleged financial crimes involving more than N31 billion.
Maryann Anenih, the judge in charge of the case, frowned at what she described as time-wasting tactics by the defence, following an objection raised against the commencement of trial by Temitayo Sonuyi, counsel to the second defendant.
Mamman and seven others, Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua and Ogunjobi Olusila are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a nine-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and intent to defraud.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Spokesman on Tuesday, the alleged offences involve the sum of N31,070,541,349.64.
At the resumed hearing, Sonuyi urged the court to halt the trial pending the determination of two applications filed on December 5 and December 10, 2025, challenging the competence of the charge and the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Anenih, however, declined to entertain the applications, explaining that the court had not had sufficient time to study the processes, adding that the final application was not yet before her.
“I have listened to both parties. However, reading the prayers, I cannot take the prayers in the application when I have not seen or read it. It is not ripe for hearing at this point, and the final process is not in the case file before me,” the judge said.
She stressed that applications must be properly processed and brought before the court in good time to allow for meaningful consideration, warning against actions that unnecessarily delay proceedings.
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“I cannot come here and sit down and waste time for nothing to be done today. Counsel, please let us proceed with the trial. When we come on the next adjourned date, I can deliver my ruling,” Anenih added.
Earlier, Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecuting counsel, informed the court that the EFCC had already responded to the jurisdictional challenge, noting that the second defendant was served with a counter-affidavit on January 6, 2026.
He also disclosed that moments before the sitting, his attention was drawn to a fresh response filed by the defence to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
Oyedepo urged the court to proceed with the trial, stating that the prosecution was ready to go on and had its witnesses present in court.
He argued that the pending applications could be taken at a later date to avoid wasting the court’s time.
Following the court’s position, Sonuyi applied to withdraw his affidavit in response to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, assuring the court that he would regularise all necessary processes.
Meanwhile, counsel to the sixth defendant, J.A. Egwaede, told the court that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit was only served on him in court on Tuesday.
He requested an adjournment to enable him study the document and file a response.
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In her ruling, Anenih held that, in the interest of justice, the sixth defendant should be granted time to respond, particularly as the issue of jurisdiction must be resolved to properly determine the course of the trial.
The court consequently adjourned the matter to February 18, 2026, for ruling on the pending applications, and March 11 and March 25, 2026, for continuation of trial.
