A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted and sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to multiple prison terms over fraud and money laundering offences linked to federal power projects.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho found the former minister guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment on 10 counts, while he received three years and two years jail terms on counts four and five respectively.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences would run consecutively and without the option of fine, except for count four where the convict was given an option of a ₦10m fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of several foreign currencies recovered from the former minister, alongside four luxury properties in Abuja traced to him.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, had earlier been convicted in absentia after failing to appear before the court.
Justice Omotosho said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” the judge held.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case.”
The court found Mamman guilty of making a cash payment of $655,700 — equivalent to about ₦200m — for a property in Abuja without using a financial institution, contrary to financial regulations.
He was also convicted for criminal breach of trust involving funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the court, much of the money was allegedly diverted through Bureau de Change operators who converted the funds into foreign currencies before handing them to the defendant.
Justice Omotosho criticised the former minister for failing to improve Nigeria’s electricity sector despite holding a key public office.
“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,” the judge said.
“Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today.”
Mamman was absent during both his conviction and sentencing proceedings.
His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court he could not determine the former minister’s whereabouts, adding that attempts to reach him through telephone calls were unsuccessful.
Following the sentencing, the court directed Nigerian security agencies to work with Interpol to ensure the arrest of the convict.
Justice Omotosho further ruled that the prison sentence would begin from the date of Mamman’s arrest.
