By Chinedu Echianu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following his recent conviction and sentencing by the Federal High Court in Abuja over a ₦33.8 billion money laundering case linked to major power projects.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede confirmed the arrest during a press briefing on Tuesday, revealing that Mamman was apprehended at about 3:30 a.m. in Kano after weeks of intelligence surveillance.
According to Olukoyede, the anti-graft agency had filed charges against the former minister in January 2025 over allegations that he diverted more than ₦33 billion earmarked for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
“You will recall that sometime in January 2025, we filed charges against the ex-minister of power for allegedly converting over ₦33 billion meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects,” Olukoyede said.
He added that the Federal High Court secured convictions on all 12 counts against Mamman earlier this month. However, sentencing was delayed because the former minister failed to appear in court.
“On the 13th of this month, he was sentenced in absentia. Since then, we opened intelligence surveillance to locate him. I am happy to announce that at about 3:30 a.m. this morning, we arrested Mr. Saleh Mamman somewhere in Kano,” the EFCC chairman stated.
Olukoyede disclosed that Mamman was arrested alongside two other individuals suspected of shielding the convicted former minister from authorities.
“We have discovered that he was actually being protected all this while,” he said, adding that the EFCC would investigate the property where Mamman was found.
The EFCC boss described the arrest as a major step in the Federal Government’s anti-corruption campaign, insisting that public officials who misuse national resources would face justice.
“It is to assure Nigerians that anyone who has taken government or national resources will not go unpunished, and the eagle eye of the EFCC will always catch up with you wherever you are hiding,” he added.
75-Year Jail Sentence
On May 13, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, sentenced Mamman to a cumulative 75 years’ imprisonment after convicting him on all 12 counts brought against him by the EFCC.
The offences involved alleged money laundering and diversion of funds linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The court ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 75 years.
Justice Omotosho held that Mamman’s repeated absence from court proceedings was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the administration of justice.
The former minister received seven-year prison terms on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine. He was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Count 4 with an option of a ₦10 million fine, and two years on Count 5 without an option of fine.
The judge further directed security agencies to collaborate with Interpol to ensure Mamman’s arrest and enforcement of the court’s judgment.
