ABUJA, NIGERIA — A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison for his involvement in a massive ₦33.8 billion money laundering and public fund diversion scandal.
The landmark judgment was delivered by presiding judge Justice James Omotosho following a successful prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Sentencing Breakdown
The court found Mamman guilty on all 12 amended counts of money laundering, conspiracy, and criminal breach of trust. Justice Omotosho ordered the prison terms to run consecutively:
- Main Charges: 7 years of imprisonment each on 10 separate counts.
- Subsidiary Charges: 3 years on count four and 2 years on count five.
- Execution Order: The convict must serve the sentences sequentially without the option of a fine, with the sole exception of count four, which allows for a ₦10 million fine option.
The court also ordered the absolute forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from Mamman, alongside four luxury real estate properties in Abuja traced directly to the fraud proceeds.
Siphoning Power Infrastructure Funds
Saleh Mamman, who served as Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2021, was originally arraigned in 2024.
The EFCC presented 17 witnesses and 43 documentary exhibits detailing how Mamman conspired with ministry staff and Bureau De Change (BDC) operators. The network systematically siphoned billions of naira explicitly earmarked for critical infrastructure—specifically the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
Budgetary releases were funneled through BDC operators, converted into foreign currencies, and delivered to the minister. Among the financial infractions proved by the prosecution was a raw cash payment of $655,700 made outside any financial institution to purchase luxury real estate in Abuja.
Rebuke of “Lavish Greed”
During the reading of the judgment, Justice Omotosho strongly rebuked the former minister’s actions. The judge remarked that Mamman failed to build any lasting legacy to resolve the nation’s epileptic power supply, choosing instead to live lavishly at the expense of ordinary citizens. Justice Omotosho noted that the greed of the political elite directly contributes to keeping millions of Nigerians in darkness while crippling national economic growth.
The final sentencing brings a turbulent trial to a close. The court had previously convicted Mamman after he failed to appear in court, claiming sudden illness. The judge rejected the excuse as a delay tactic, pointing out that Mamman had recently been active in local political campaigns, including purchasing a governorship nomination form in Taraba State. The EFCC subsequently obtained a bench warrant to secure his presence for the final sentencing.
