Ex-Power Minister, Saleh Mamman, Convicted Over N33.8bn Fraud

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on a 12-count charge of money laundering involving N33.8 billion.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution, led by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

In a stern rebuke, the judge faulted the former minister for what he described as lavish living at the expense of Nigerians, saying the conduct formed part of the reasons many citizens remain trapped in darkness despite huge public spending in the power sector.

The court also issued a warrant for Mamman’s arrest after he failed to appear for the judgment without any formal explanation.

When the matter was called, defence counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court he had not been able to reach his client since Tuesday when notice of the judgment was served. He said an associate informed him that the former minister was ill, which accounted for his absence.

But prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to reject the explanation, arguing that no credible medical report or documentary evidence was presented to support the claim of illness.

Justice Omotosho agreed with the prosecution and ordered security agencies to locate, arrest and produce the convicted former minister before the court for sentencing.

Mamman, who was appointed Minister of Power by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and removed from office in September 2021, is being prosecuted over alleged diversion and laundering of public funds during his time in office.

In December last year, Justice Omotosho had dismissed a no-case submission filed by the former minister, ruling that the EFCC had established a prima facie case and that the evidence before the court was strong enough to require him to enter a defence.