From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
Concerned stakeholders in Taraba State have cautioned against undue interference in matters involving former Minister of Power, Engr. Sale Mamman, particularly regarding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, urging that the judiciary be allowed to determine the issues in line with due process.
In a statement issued to newsmen, the group questioned the rationale behind an April 21 publication by a privately owned media organisation in the state, which called on the former minister to explain delays associated with the Mambilla project.
According to the statement, “The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project was conceived in the 1970s and awarded in 2003 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, about 16 years before Engr. Mamman assumed office in 2019. Since then, the project has faced persistent legal, financial, and contractual challenges, including international arbitration. Assigning over four decades of delay to a minister who served for less than two years is both inaccurate and misleading.”
The stakeholders emphasised that allegations do not amount to convictions, noting that Engr. Mamman, who is currently facing two charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) involving alleged N33.8 billion and N31.7 billion linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla projects, has pleaded not guilty. They stressed that under the law, he remains innocent until proven otherwise.
They added that proceedings in court, including testimony presented in January 2025, confirm that the matter is ongoing and properly before the judiciary, insisting that judgment should be left to the courts rather than public speculation.
The statement further revealed that available court records, including filings in the case involving former Minister Olu Agunloye, indicate that as far back as 2003, the Federal Executive Council directed the withdrawal of the Mambilla contract memorandum for renegotiation—a process that was never concluded. It noted that testimonies have also pointed to gaps in key agreements, which have significantly contributed to delays in the project.
“It is also on record that in September 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari relieved two Ministers of their duties, including Engr. Mamman. No official statement linked his removal to the Mambilla project or allegations of corruption.”
“Despite sector-wide challenges, Engr. Sale Mamman tenure saw the completion of the 700MW Zungeru Hydropower Project, now on the national grid, an indication of his experience in handling large-scale infrastructure”.
“Tarabans deserve transparency, but they also deserve fairness. The Mambilla project is a complex, decades-long undertaking that cannot reasonably be attributed to one individual’s tenure. Engr. Mamman should be allowed to face due process, while the public assesses his record and future aspirations based on facts, not misplaced blame,” the statement concluded.
