The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a total of 75 years imprisonment for fraud, money laundering and diversion of public funds amounting to about N33.8 billion.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on 10 counts, while he received three years and two years respectively on counts four and five.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years. The court also ruled that the convict would have no option of fine on all counts except count four, where he was given the option of paying a ₦10 million fine.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered the forfeiture of various foreign currencies recovered from the convict, as well as four high-value properties in Abuja traced to him.
It would be recalled that the court had, on May 7, convicted Mamman in absentia after finding that the prosecution had successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho said he was satisfied that the EFCC established the former minister’s culpability on all counts contained in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman served as Minister of Power under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The court found that he made a cash payment of $655,700—equivalent to about N200 million—for the purchase of a landed property in Abuja without passing through any financial institution, in violation of financial regulations.
He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust involving funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the court, a substantial portion of the diverted funds was allegedly routed through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies and handed it over to the defendant.
“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,” Justice Omotosho held.
The trial judge also criticised the former minister for failing to leave a positive legacy in Nigeria’s 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.
“Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” the judge added.
Mamman was absent both when he was convicted and when the sentence was handed down, prompting the court to earlier issue a warrant for his arrest.
Counsel to the convict, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he had been unable to establish contact with his client, adding that calls made to his telephone lines did not connect.
Following the sentencing, Justice Omotosho directed all security agencies to work with Interpol to ensure the arrest of the convict.
The court further ruled that the prison term would begin to run from the date of his eventual arrest.
