The arraignment of Mr Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power under the leadership of Former President Muhammadu Buhari, was, on Thursday, stalled after he collapsed outside the courtroom of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Mamman, whose plea was scheduled for Thursday morning, collapsed before the case was called.
NAN reports that the former minister’s counsel, Femi Ate, SAN, informed Justice James Omotosho of the situation when the matter was called for Mamman to take his plea.
Upon resumption, the ex-minister walked into the courtroom and stepped into the dock with part of his clothes drenched.
Justice Omotosho asked why Mamman was sweating or whether it was raining outside.
The former minister, responding from the dock, said water was poured on him.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, while addressing the court, stated that although the matter was set for Mamman’s arraignment, there had been a development outside the courtroom.
Olumide-Fusika mentioned that he had discussed Mamman’s ill-health with Ate outside the courtroom.
“I was informed of an incident outside. I will want my learned senior advocate to tell the honourable court himself,” he said.
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 said his client was served with the charge after he was resuscitated.
“He was served this morning,” he added.
The senior lawyer said he sought Olumide-Fusika’s understanding for an adjournment so that the arraignment could be done on Monday when his client would be well.
However, the judge stated that due to the court’s heavy workload, the arraignment could only be scheduled for the end of September.
Ate then withdrew the oral application for an adjournment.
Olumide-Fusika mentioned that he had just filed an amended charge earlier in the morning due to a mistake in the defendant’s name and requested that the fresh charge be read to Mamman so he could take his plea, but Justice Omotosho disagreed.
The judge asked Mamman if he was fit enough to take his plea that day, and he responded affirmatively.
The former minister explained to the court that he had collapsed outside the courtroom because he took medication on an empty stomach, which caused his blood pressure to drop while he was waiting to be called.
Despite this, Mamman stated he was fit to continue with the arraignment.
“It can happen to anyone,” the judge said.
The ex-minister told the court that he called the attention of his lawyer to the error made by the EFCC on the name in the charge served on him.
“I was complaining about the name, that it was not my own,” he said.
Justice Omotosho then stepped down the arraignment until 1pm today.
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