BREAKING: Court Sentence ex-power minister Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over N33.8bn fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison for stealing public funds totalling about ₦33.8 billion.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court handed him seven years each on 10 counts, while he received three years and two years on counts four and five respectively. The sentences are to run consecutively, with no option of fine, except on count four where the court imposed a ₦10 million fine.

Justice Omotosho also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from the convict as well as four properties in Abuja traced to him.

Mamman was convicted in absentia, having earlier been found guilty on May 7.

He was accused of criminal breach of trust involving funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects. The court also found that large sums were diverted through Bureau de Change operators and converted into foreign currency.

“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” Justice Omotosho said.

The judge further criticised the former minister for failing to prioritise national power development, stating that his actions contributed to Nigeria’s ongoing electricity challenges.

Meanwhile, Mamman was absent during both conviction and sentencing. His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court he could not account for his whereabouts, saying repeated calls to him failed to connect.

Following the judgment, Justice Omotosho ordered security agencies to work with Interpol to ensure Mamman’s arrest, adding that the sentence will begin once he is apprehended.

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