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Court convicts former power minister Saleh Mamman of ₦33.8bn fraud
The Federal High Court Abuja has convicted Nigeria’s former minister of power, Saleh Mamman, of fraud and money laundering.
This arises from a 12-count charge filed against the former power minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice James Omotosho who delivered the judgment held that the former minister’s culpability was established beyond reasonable doubt by the EFCC.
Mamman served in late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration before he was sacked in 2021 and subsequently arrested by the EFCC four months later for illegal diversion of public funds, totalling about ₦33.8 billion.
The court said most of the funds were siphoned through the instrumentality of Bureau de Change operators (BDCs), noting that the evidence against the defendant was overwhelming.
According to Justice Omotosho, “The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case.”
The judge further blamed the defendant for the country’s 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.
“Little wonder Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” Justice Omotosho noted.
The court however postponed sentencing since the defendant was absent during judgment, while granting EFCC’s application for a warrant of arrest against him.
Counsel for the defence, Muhammed Ahmed, informed the court that the defendant had taken ill based on information from his personal assistant, with his whereabouts unknown since the issuance of the notice of judgment, although failing to persuade the court to postpone judgment.
Justice Omotosho however held that the defendant had recently been active in politics, purchasing a nomination form to contest the Taraba State gubernatorial election, based on media reports, as EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to proceed with the judgment.
“My Lord should go ahead. If the judgment is in his favour, we know what to do. If it is against him, we also know what to do,” Oyedepo said.
Mamman’s arrest came four months after he was sacked by former President Buhari in 2021, with EFCC presenting 17 witnesses and tendering 43 exhibits against him.
Mamman was found guilty of criminal breach of trust in relation to funds released by the federal government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects, while also making a $655,700 cash purchase of a landed property in Abuja.
With sentencing fixed for Tuesday May 13 2026, EFCC revealed in its investigations, that high-value assets within and outside Nigeria were acquired with the diverted funds.
