Former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman has been sentenced to 75 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Abuja for the embezzlement and laundering of ₦33.8 billion intended for major hydroelectric power projects.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a total of 75 years in prison for his involvement in a ₦33.8 billion fraud scheme. Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), convicted the former minister on all 12 counts of money laundering and criminal conspiracy. The charges were linked to the unlawful diversion of public funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects, marking one of the most significant judicial outcomes in Nigeria’s recent anti-corruption efforts.
In a rare move, Justice Omotosho ordered the prison terms for each count to run consecutively rather than concurrently, resulting in the lengthy 75-year sentence. Specifically, Mamman received seven years each for 10 counts, a three-year term for another count, and two years for the final charge. The judge noted that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing that a large portion of the diverted funds was funneled through bureau de change operators and used to acquire properties in Abuja. The court also ordered the forfeiture of four properties and recovered foreign currencies traced back to the former official.
The sentence was delivered in absentia, as Mamman failed to appear in court for the final judgment, prompting the judge to issue a bench warrant and direct security agencies and Interpol to effect his arrest. Justice Omotosho ruled that the 75-year jail term will commence on the day the convict is taken into custody. Reflecting on the gravity of the offense, the judge remarked that “the evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” highlighting the failure of the former minister to rebut the evidence of illegal cash payments and multi-billion naira diversions.
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