Former Minister of Power jailed 75 years for fraud

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over the theft of public funds amounting to about N33.8 billion.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment after convicting Mamman on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering brought 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 imprisonment on counts four and five respectively.

Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences would run consecutively without the option of fine, except for count four where the court allowed the payment of N10 million fine.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of various foreign currencies recovered from the convict, alongside four properties in Abuja linked to him.

Justice Omotosho had earlier convicted Mamman in absentia on May 7 after ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.

Mamman served as Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The court found that he paid $655,700 in cash, equivalent to about N200 million, for a property in Abuja without using any financial institution.

He was also convicted for criminal breach of trust involving funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.

According to the court, large sums were diverted through Bureau de Change operators who converted the funds into foreign currencies before handing them to the former minister.

Justice Omotosho said: “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 criticised Mamman’s conduct while serving as minister, saying he failed to prioritise improving Nigeria’s power sector.

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Justice Omotosho said: “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.”

Mamman was absent during both his conviction and sentencing, prompting the court to earlier issue a warrant for his arrest.

His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court he did not know the whereabouts of his client and that efforts to reach him through his telephone lines were unsuccessful.

Following the judgment, the court directed Nigerian security agencies to work with Interpol to ensure Mamman’s arrest.

Justice Omotosho further ruled that the jail term would begin from the date of his arrest.

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