The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a total of 75 years imprisonment on a 12-count charge of money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, handed down the sentence after finding Mamman, who was absent from court, guilty on all 12 counts of conspiracy and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Omotosho said the absence of the former minister in court on Wednesday and on the last adjourned date was a deliberate attempt to obstruct the course of justice.
The judge, who agreed with the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, empower the court to proceed with sentencing despite the defendant’s absence, held that Mamman could not claim to have suffered a miscarriage of justice.
Consequently, the court sentenced the convict to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, without the option of fine.
Justice Omotosho also sentenced him to a three-year jail term on Count 4, with an option of a ₦10 million fine, and two years imprisonment on Count 5 without the option of fine.
The judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively and commence from the date of his arrest.
He further directed all security agencies within and outside Nigeria, including INTERPOL, to arrest Mamman wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.
Based on an application by the prosecution, which was not opposed by Mamman’s counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, Justice Omotosho also ordered the final forfeiture of two properties belonging to the convict located in choice areas of Abuja, as well as monies recovered in different currencies by the anti-graft agency.
The judge further ordered that the outstanding balance between the monies and assets recovered from Mamman and the ₦22 billion the prosecution established during trial, out of the alleged ₦33.8 billion siphoned from the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects, be refunded by the convict.
Justice Omotosho had, on May 7, convicted Mamman on the 12-count charge filed by the EFCC and adjourned till Wednesday, May 13, for sentencing following his absence in court and the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.
In the judgment, the court held that the EFCC had proved its case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt, as required by law.
The judge held that the prosecution established that at least ₦22 billion was siphoned by the defendant and his associates.
“This is sufficient to sustain the charge. Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted on Count 1 of the charge.
“The defence did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s evidence. Upon the unchallenged evidence of the prosecution, the court hereby convicts the defendant on Count 1 of the charge,” Justice Omotosho held.
The judge added that Mamman’s diversion of funds meant for critical projects such as the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects for personal use was “an eyesore.”
Justice Omotosho observed that although the burden of proof in criminal matters is high, the EFCC successfully discharged that burden beyond reasonable doubt. He noted that some EFCC witnesses testified on how funds budgeted for the power projects were diverted under various disguises on the instructions of the former minister.
“The sheer greed of the defendant and his comrades in crime is nothing but downright shameful. For a defendant who held such a critical position as Minister of Power, rather than focusing on creating a legacy by solving the epileptic power supply in the country, he began siphoning and converting funds meant for serious projects into private pockets.
“The defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary Nigerians who had suffered from the consequences of his malfeasance. Little wonder Nigeria has remained in darkness,” the judge said.
“In final analysis, the prosecution has established the 12-count charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. Consequently, he is hereby convicted as charged,” Justice Omotosho held.
Shortly after the conviction, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), urged the court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the convict, who was absent from court without explanation when judgment was delivered.
Oyedepo argued that the defence failed to provide credible evidence, such as a medical report, to support claims that the convict was ill.
Earlier, counsel to the convict, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that he had not had access to his client since Tuesday, when he received notice of the judgment.
He, however, appealed for an adjournment to allow his client present himself in court, adding that if Mamman failed to appear on the next adjourned date, the court could then issue a warrant for his arrest.
When asked by the judge when the defendant could be contacted, Ahmed said he would reach out to the former minister’s personal assistant.
He added that one of Mamman’s associates informed him that the former minister was ill, which accounted for his absence in court.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered that the former minister be produced in court on the adjourned date for sentencing and adjourned the matter till May 13 after finding him guilty as charged.
The EFCC, in July 2024, arraigned Mamman on allegations of money laundering and conspiracy involving officials of the Ministry of Power and some private companies in the alleged diversion of ₦33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
The former minister pleaded not guilty to the charges. In the course of the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case.
Mamman, through his lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, did not call any witness in his defence but instead filed a no-case submission, which the court dismissed in December 2025.
In dismissing the application, the judge held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against the former minister and that the evidence presented required him to enter a defence, particularly considering the gravity of the allegations.
Mamman was appointed Minister of Power by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and was relieved of his duties in September 2021.
