Court sentences former minister Mamman to 75 years in prison for N33.8 billion fraud.

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

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 judgment, delivered by Justice James Omotosho, convicted and sentenced him on all 12 count fraud and money‑laundering charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He received seven years for each of ten counts, and three years for count four and two years for count five.

Justice Omotosho ordered that the sentences run consecutively, with no fine imposed except for count four, for which a N10 million fine was permitted.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of various foreign currencies recovered from the convict, together with four properties in Abuja that were traced to him.

It will be recalled that the court had, on May 7, convicted the former minister in absentia.

Justice Omotosho said he was satisfied that the anti‑graft agency had established the former minister’s culpability beyond reasonable doubt.

The conviction was entered on all grounds of the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.

Mamman, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was found complicit in the illegal diversion of public funds totalling

The court found that he made a cash payment of $655,700 (equivalent to ₦200 million) for landed property in Abuja, without recourse to a financial institution.

He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust in relation to funds released by the federal government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.

The court noted that most of the funds were siphoned through Bureau de Change operators (BDCs), who converted the money into foreign currencies and handed it 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 decried that the defendant, as Minister of Power, was not concerned with leaving a lasting legacy.

“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, the defendant, who was absent when convicted, was also not present when the sentence was pronounced.

The court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

A lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, who announced his appearance for the convict, told the court that he did not know the defendant’s whereabouts, adding that calls to his phone lines had failed to connect.

After sentencing, Justice Omotosho ordered all security agencies to liaise with Interpol to ensure the convict’s arrest.

The court held that the sentence should commence from the day of his arrest.

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