Court Jails Ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman for 75 Years Over N33.8bn Fraud
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday convicted and sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a cumulative 75 years’ imprisonment in absentia over a N33.8 billion money laundering scandal linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Delivering judgement, Justice James Omotosho found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering.
The court ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, resulting in a total jail term of 75 years.
Justice Omotosho held that the former minister deliberately absented himself from court both on the day of sentencing and on the previous adjourned date in an attempt to frustrate the judicial process.
The judge agreed with the submission of EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the court was empowered to continue proceedings and deliver judgement in the absence of a defendant who wilfully refuses to appear.
According to the ruling, Mamman was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine.
He was also handed a three-year jail term on Count 4 with an option of a N10 million fine, while Count 5 attracted a two-year prison sentence without an option of fine.
Justice Omotosho directed that all the sentences should run consecutively and further ordered that the sentence would commence from the date of Mamman’s arrest since he was convicted in absentia.
The court subsequently ordered security agencies within and outside Nigeria, including Interpol, to arrest the former minister wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.
In addition to the prison terms, the court ordered the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to the convict, alongside various sums of money recovered in different currencies by anti-corruption agencies.
Justice Omotosho also directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the N22 billion already traced to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects out of the N33.8 billion allegedly diverted.
The conviction followed a lengthy trial initiated by the EFCC, which accused the former minister of conspiring with ministry officials and private firms to divert public funds earmarked for the execution of the major power projects.
Mamman was first arraigned before the court on July 11, 2024, on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits in support of its case against the former minister.
Following the close of the prosecution’s case, Mamman filed a no-case submission on November 19, 2025, contending that the anti-graft agency had failed to establish sufficient evidence requiring him to open a defence.
However, Justice Omotosho, in a ruling delivered on December 11, 2025, dismissed the application and held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendant.
The judge clarified at the time that the ruling did not amount to a declaration of guilt but merely required the defendant to respond to the allegations levelled against him.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to February 23, 2026, for continuation of defence proceedings before Wednesday’s final judgement brought the high-profile corruption trial to a close.
The case is one of Nigeria’s most significant corruption convictions in recent years and traces back to Mamman’s arrest and detention by the EFCC on May 10, 2021, over allegations of large-scale diversion of funds meant for critical national power infrastructure projects.
