Court Sentences Saleh Mamman To 75 Years In Prison For N33.8bn Fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison over a N33.8 billion fraud and money laundering case.

The former minister was found guilty on all 12 charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho sentenced Saleh Mamman to seven years imprisonment on 10 of the charges.

He also received three years imprisonment on one count and two years on another.

The judge ruled that the prison terms would run one after another and not at the same time.

He also stated that there would be no option of fine for most of the charges, except for count four, where Mamman was given the option of paying a N10 million fine.

The court further ordered the seizure of foreign currencies recovered during the investigation, alongside four luxury properties in Abuja linked to the former minister.

The EFCC had arraigned Mamman in July 2024 on allegations involving money laundering, conspiracy, and diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.

According to the EFCC, the funds were allegedly diverted in collaboration with ministry officials and some private firms.

Mamman denied the allegations when he was first charged in court under case number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.

During the trial, the EFCC presented 17 witnesses and submitted 43 exhibits as evidence before closing its case.

On May 7, the court convicted Mamman in his absence after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The court also issued a warrant for his arrest.

At the sentencing hearing, Mamman’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he did not know the former minister’s location and that attempts to contact him by phone were unsuccessful.

Following the judgment, Justice Omotosho directed security agencies to work with Interpol to track down and arrest the convict.

The court added that the prison sentence would begin from the day Mamman is arrested.

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