A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a combined 75 years in prison after finding him guilty of fraud and money laundering involving approximately ₦33.8 billion in public funds.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting the former minister on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court handed Mamman seven-year prison terms on 10 counts, while counts four and five attracted separate sentences of three years and two years respectively. Justice Omotosho ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, meaning they will be served one after another.
However, the court allowed the option of a ₦10 million fine on count four.
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered the forfeiture of several assets linked to the former minister, including foreign currencies recovered during investigations and four high-value properties in Abuja traced to him.
The case stemmed from allegations that funds earmarked for major power projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects, were diverted during Mamman’s tenure under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the court, Mamman was found guilty of making a cash payment of $655,700 — equivalent to about ₦200 million — for a property in Abuja without processing the transaction through a financial institution, contrary to financial regulations.
Justice Omotosho stated that the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence proving the former minister’s involvement in the fraud scheme.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” the judge said during the ruling.
The court further heard that large sums of money were allegedly moved through Bureau de Change operators, converted into foreign currencies, and delivered to the former minister.
Justice Omotosho also criticised the former minister for failing to use his office to address Nigeria’s longstanding electricity challenges.
“Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens,” the judge stated.
Mamman was absent during both his conviction and sentencing. His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he could not reach his client and did not know his whereabouts.
Following the ruling, the court directed Nigerian security agencies to work with Interpol to track and arrest the former minister.
Justice Omotosho ordered that the prison sentence would begin from the date of Mamman’s eventual arrest.
