A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a N33.8bn money laundering and fraud case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice James Omotosho convicted Mamman on all 12 counts, ruling that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The judge ordered that the prison terms run consecutively, resulting in a total jail term of 75 years.
According to the EFCC, Mamman, while serving as Minister of Power in 2019, conspired with ministry officials and private firms to divert N33.8bn meant for public projects, an offence contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The anti-graft agency alleged that part of the funds was channelled through Bureau De Change operators, converted into foreign currencies and delivered to the former minister and his associates.
In one of the counts, the EFCC accused Mamman and an associate, Samson Bitrus, of making a cash payment of $665,700 to MOHIBA Investment Ltd for the purchase of a property in Abuja without using a financial institution, contrary to the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each on counts one, two, three, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine. He was also sentenced to three years imprisonment on count four with an option of N10m fine and two years imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.
The court held that Mamman deliberately absented himself from proceedings in an attempt to frustrate justice.
Relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the judge ruled that sentencing could proceed despite the defendant’s absence and ordered security agencies, including Interpol, to arrest him wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The court ruled that the sentence would begin from the date of his arrest.
Justice Omotosho also ordered the final forfeiture of recovered funds, foreign currencies and properties linked to the convict, including assets traced to him in Abuja.
The court further directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the N22bn found to have been diverted from funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari was arraigned in July 2024 on charges bordering on conspiracy and money laundering in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
