- Collapsing in the face of law by politicians has become quite a trend in Nigeria
- Ex-minister of Power Saleh Mamman joined the exclusive club by collapsing during his arraignment for an alleged N33 billion fraud
- Here are other politicians who have also become known for their dramatic collapsing
Collapsing in the face of probing and accountability by politicians has become quite notable in Nigeria.
Recently, precisely on Thursday, July 11, the ex-minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who served under the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, collapsed at the Federal High Court in Abuja during his arraignment for an alleged N33 billion fraud.
Mamman collapses during arraignment for fraud
His lawyer explained to Justice James Omotosho that Mamman had collapsed on the court premises and had to be revived by medical personnel just before the hearing began.
Saleh Mamman claimed he took medication on an empty stomach. He was later charged with 12 counts, alleging that he laundered N22 billion.
Other politicians who also collapsed
We have other politicians who have also become known for their dramatic collapse in the face of corruption allegations.
Below is the list of some of these politicians:
1. Femi Fani-Kayode
Femi Fani-Kayode, former aviation minister, collapsed suddenly at the EFCC premises in Abuja in October 2016 while detained over allegations of illegally acquiring N4.9 billion from former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The EFCC later charged him with forgery, claiming he used fraudulent medical documents to evade justice.
2. Olisah Metuh
Olisah Metuh, former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), collapsed at a Federal High Court hearing in Abuja on May 21, 2018. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought seven counts of money laundering against Metuh, alleging that he had received N400 million from the office of the national security adviser. At different times, Metuh was seen in court in a wheelchair and even on a stretcher.
3. Dino Melaye
Dino Melaye's collapse happened on a Friday, January 4, 2019, as he was leaving his residence to enter the police vehicle waiting to take him to their station.
The lawmaker, who gave himself to the police, was reportedly taken to a police clinic in Garki Area 1, Abuja, after being arrested and brought to the SARS headquarters. He was accused of culpable homicide, which he denied.
4. Kemebradikumo Pondei
Kemebradikumo Pondei, the acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2020, "passed out" during a House of Representatives Committee session investigating financial misappropriations in the commission.
He was being questioned about an alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the interim management of the NDDC he headed when he "fainted."
5. Abdulrasheed Maina
Abdulrasheed Maina, the former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), went into hiding after jumping bail in September but was caught in the Niger Republic and extradited to Nigeria in December 2020.
At the resumed proceedings, Maina collapsed in front of a federal high court in Abuja, leading the judge to suspend the hearing. He was alleged of laundering N2 billion.
Docu-series on Diezani Alison-Madueke’s fraud allegations
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the story on the fraud allegations of a former minister of Petroleum in Nigeria, Diezani Alison-Madueke, titled “Is it Your Money? The Story of Diezani Alison-Madueke” is set to premiere in the latter part of 2024.
According to Chude Jideonwo, the facilitator of the project and co-founder of RED Media, the documentary would be the “biggest-budget docu-series from our dear country."