Ex-Power Minister Jailed 75 Years for N33.8bn Fraud
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison after convicting him of fraud and money laundering involving N33.8 billion.
Mamman was found guilty on all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He received seven years each on 10 counts, plus three years and two years on two other counts, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Justice James Omotosho ruled there would be no option of fine except on one count, which allowed a N10m fine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies and four properties in Abuja traced to Mamman.
The EFCC had arraigned Mamman in July 2024, accusing him of conspiring with ministry officials and private firms to divert funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects. He pleaded not guilty, but the commission presented 17 witnesses and 43 exhibits.
On May 7, 2026, Mamman was convicted in absentia after failing to appear in court. His lawyer admitted he did not know his client’s whereabouts, and calls to Mamman’s phones went unanswered.
Following sentencing, the judge ordered security agencies to work with Interpol to arrest Mamman, with the sentence to begin from the day of his arrest.
The case highlights Nigeria’s ongoing crackdown on corruption in the power sector, where billions have been lost to stalled projects and mismanagement.
Observers say the ruling sends a strong signal about accountability, especially as the EFCC intensifies prosecutions of high-profile officials accused of diverting public funds.
