‘N22 Billion Fraud’: Court Sentences Ex-power Minister, Mamman To 75 Years Imprisonment In Absentia

By Olumuyiwa Olumuyiwa

Barring a subsequent review of verdict, which may lead to overturning the subsisting pronouncement, former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, will soon be confined to the cold walls of a prison for decades.

This is Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, sentenced Mamman to 75 years improvement over corruption linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday while the former minister allegedly remains at large.

While delivering the verdict, the trial judge convicted  Mamman on a 12-count charge and held that the prison terms would run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years.

Justice Omotosho further ordered that the jail term would begin from the day the convict is arrested.

The judge also directed all security agencies to arrest Mamman wherever he is found.

The court equally ordered that all monies and properties recovered from the former minister be forfeited to the Federal Government, while directing him to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged N22bn linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.

Recall that Judge Omotosho had ruled on 7 May that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) proved the amended 12 counts against Mamman beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge said the prosecution established that the defendant and his associates stole at least N22 billion, describing the evidence as sufficient to sustain the charges. He held that the defence failed to present credible material to challenge the case put forward by the prosecution.

He condemned the diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects, describing the conduct as a breach of public trust.

He said  Mamman relied on proxy companies and associates to move funds and benefit from public resources meant for critical national infrastructure.

Mamman served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, overseeing Nigeria’s power sector and major federal hydroelectric projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects.

He is one of the Buhari administration’s key cabinet members who faced investigations and subsequent corruption charges after leaving office. Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation; Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, and Chris Ngige, the minister of labour, who served in the Buhari administration are still standing trial.

Mamman is the only member of that cabinet who has been convicted and jailed for corruption.

He recently declared interest in the 2027 Taraba State governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).