Court Seizes Abuja Properties, Foreign Cash as Ex-Power Minister, Saleh Mamman, Gets 75-Year Sentence

Pat Stevens/

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a N33.8 billion money laundering scandal linked to the controversial Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.

In a dramatic ruling delivered on Wednesday, the court also ordered national and international security agencies to arrest the former minister and hand him over to correctional authorities after he failed to appear in court for sentencing.

Mamman, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was convicted on all 12 counts filed against him over the alleged laundering of N33,804,830,503.73 while serving as Minister of Power.

Justice Omotosho had last week found the former minister guilty but deferred sentencing until Wednesday.

At the resumed proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the convict was again absent and that no satisfactory explanation had been provided by his legal team regarding his whereabouts.

Oyedepo urged the court to proceed with sentencing in absentia, relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

One of the charges accused Mamman of conspiring with ministry officials and private companies in 2019 to divert and conceal over N33.8 billion meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.

According to the charge, the funds were allegedly channelled through various private firms despite the defendant allegedly knowing the money formed part of proceeds of unlawful activity arising from criminal breach of trust.

Another count alleged that Mamman conspired with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of $665,700 to Mohiba Investment Ltd without passing through a financial institution, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering Act.

During the sentencing hearing, Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, asked the court to order the forfeiture of several assets traced to the former minister.

The properties include two units of four-bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja, as well as another property at No. 12A and B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.
The prosecution also sought the forfeiture of multiple foreign currencies allegedly recovered from Mamman’s residence, including $13,890, €19,960, £10,000, 42,390 Jordanian dinars, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Riyals.

Oyedepo further urged the court to compel the former minister to refund the outstanding balance from the N22 billion for which he was found guilty.

In his judgment, 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.

The judge also imposed three years imprisonment on count four with an option of N10 million fine, and two years imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.

The sentences are to run consecutively from the date of Mamman’s arrest, effectively amounting to 75 years behind bars.

Justice Omotosho further granted the prosecution’s request for the final forfeiture of the Abuja properties and all cash recovered from the convict to the Federal Government.

“The court hereby orders all national and international security agencies to arrest and hand over the convict to the Nigerian Correctional Service,” the judge ruled.

The court also directed Mamman to refund the difference between the amount already recovered and the outstanding funds linked to the fraud.

The case is one of the biggest corruption convictions involving a former cabinet member in recent years and is expected to intensify scrutiny over financial management in Nigeria’s power sector.