May 13 (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over the misappropriation of public funds amounting to about ₦33.8 billion.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting the former minister on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each on 10 counts, while he received three years imprisonment on count four and two years on count five.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences would run consecutively, effectively amounting to 75 years in prison.
The judge, however, gave the convict an option of ₦10 million fine on count four only.
In addition to the jail term, the court ordered the forfeiture of several foreign currencies recovered from the former minister, alongside four high-value properties in Abuja traced to proceeds of the crime.
THEWILL recalls that the court had earlier, on May 7, convicted Mamman in absentia after finding that the prosecution established his culpability beyond reasonable doubt in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman served as Minister of Power under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution successfully proved that the former minister engaged in unlawful financial transactions and diverted public funds meant for critical power projects.
The court held that Mamman made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million, for the purchase of a landed property in Abuja without routing the transaction through any financial institution, contrary to provisions of the law.
He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust involving funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
According to the court, a substantial portion of the funds was allegedly diverted through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies before handing same 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 faulted the conduct of the former minister, lamenting that he failed to utilise his office to improve the nation’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.
Mamman was absent when the judgment was delivered, just as he was absent during his earlier conviction by the court.
At the proceedings, counsel to the convict, Mr Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he was unaware of his client’s whereabouts, adding that attempts to reach him through his telephone lines proved unsuccessful.
Following the sentencing, Justice Omotosho directed all relevant security agencies to collaborate with Interpol to ensure the arrest of the former minister.
The court further ruled that the prison term would commence from the date of his arrest.
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