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Court hands former power minister Mamman 75-year jail term
The Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday, sentenced Nigeria’s former power minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years imprisonment.
Justice James Omotosho convicted Mamman on a 12-count charge on fraud and money laundering, especially as it relates to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
Directing security agencies to arrest Mamman anywhere he is found, Justice Omotosho ordered that the jail term would commence from the arrest date, while also ordering the forfeiture of all monies and properties recovered from the former minister to the Federal Government.
He also directed the now convicted former minister to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged ₦22 billion linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
Recall that the Federal High Court Abuja convicted the former minister of fraud and money laundering on May 7, while fixing the sentencing date for Tuesday May 13 2026.
This came from a 12-count charge filed against the former power minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (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.
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, which was given on May 7.
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.
Details later…
