A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison after finding him guilty of large-scale money laundering and fraud involving ₦33.8 billion linked to federal power projects.
The ruling was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, who convicted Mamman on all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ordering that the prison terms run consecutively, with no option of fine except on one count which carries a ₦10 million alternative penalty.
The judgment followed a lengthy trial in which the EFCC accused the former Minister of conspiring with officials and private companies to divert funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. Mamman was arraigned in July 2024 on charges of money laundering and conspiracy and pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Prosecutors called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing their case, ultimately convincing the court that the former Minister was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
He was first convicted in absentia on May 7, 2026, before the court proceeded to sentencing on May 13.
Delivering the sentence, Justice Omotosho also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies and four high-value properties in Abuja traced to Mamman. The judge further directed security agencies to work with Interpol to track and arrest the convicted former Minister, noting that his sentence will begin only from the day he is apprehended.
The court also confirmed that Mohammed Ahmed, who appeared for the defendant, informed it that Mamman’s whereabouts remain unknown, with his phone lines unreachable.
Reacting to the ruling, the EFCC maintained that the conviction marks a major step in its anti-corruption drive involving high-profile public officials.
The case remains one of the most significant corruption convictions tied to Nigeria’s power sector in recent years.
