A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of fraud and money laundering involving about ₦33.8 billion linked to major power projects in Nigeria.
The judgment, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, followed months of trial initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which accused the former minister of diverting public funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects during his time in office under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The court convicted Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him, ruling that the EFCC successfully proved allegations of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and illegal cash transactions beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment on 10 counts, while he received additional jail terms of three years and two years on separate counts. The sentences are to run consecutively, effectively amounting to 75 years behind bars.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of several assets, including foreign currencies and four Abuja properties linked to the former minister.
The case stemmed from investigations into the handling of funds allocated to the multi-billion-naira Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects, both considered critical to improving Nigeria’s electricity supply.
According to the EFCC, large sums released for the projects were allegedly diverted through Bureau de Change operators who converted the funds into foreign currencies before handing them over to the former minister.
Prosecutors also accused him of making a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million, for a property in Abuja without using a financial institution.
The conviction marks a major escalation in the high-profile corruption case. Earlier in the trial, the court had dismissed Mamman’s no-case submission and directed him to enter his defence after ruling that the anti-graft agency had established a prima facie case against him.
During the judgment, Justice Omotosho criticised the former minister for allegedly enriching himself instead of contributing to solutions in Nigeria’s struggling power sector.
“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 held.
Mamman was absent in court during both his conviction and sentencing. Following his failure to appear, the court issued a warrant for his arrest and directed security agencies to work with Interpol to ensure he is apprehended.
