NEWS
Former Buhari-Era Power Minister, Saleh Mamman, Sentenced to 75 Years Imprisonment Over ₦33.8 Billion Fraud, Money Laundering and Diversion of Mambilla, Zungeru Power Project Funds
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison for stealing public funds totalling about ₦33.8 billion.
The court, in a judgment delivered by Justice James Omotosho, convicted and sentenced the former minister on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
According to the judgment, Mamman received seven years imprisonment each on 10 counts, while the court sentenced him to three years and two years imprisonment on counts four and five respectively.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively and without the option of fine, except on count four where the court allowed the payment of a ₦10 million fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of multiple foreign currencies recovered from the convict, alongside four high-value properties in Abuja traced to him during investigations.
It would be recalled that the court had earlier, on May 7, convicted the former minister in absentia after finding that the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho stated that he was satisfied that the anti-graft agency successfully proved the former minister’s culpability in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman served as Minister of Power under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The court found that the former minister made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million, for a landed property in Abuja without passing through any financial institution, contrary to financial regulations.
He was equally found guilty of criminal breach of trust relating to funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
During the proceedings, the court heard how large sums of the funds were allegedly diverted through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the monies into foreign currencies and subsequently handed them 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 further criticised the former minister for failing to use his office to improve Nigeria’s struggling electricity 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.
Meanwhile, Mamman was absent both at the time of his conviction and during the sentencing proceedings.
The court had earlier issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear before it.
A lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, who announced appearance for the convict, informed the court that he did not know the whereabouts of his client, adding that repeated calls made to his telephone lines failed to connect.
Following the sentencing, Justice Omotosho directed all security agencies to collaborate with the Interpol to ensure the arrest of the convicted former minister.
The court further ruled that the jail term would commence from the date of his eventual arrest.