Breaking: Court Jails Ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman in Absentia for 75 Years Over ₦33.8bn Fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years’ imprisonment in absentia over offences linked to the laundering of N33.8 billion tied to the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.

Mamman was absent from court during Wednesday’s proceedings as well as the previous adjourned date, a development trial judge, James Omotosho, described as a deliberate attempt to frustrate the course of justice.

Justice Omotosho found the former minister guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and ordered that the prison terms run consecutively rather than concurrently.

The judge agreed with the submission of EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, who argued that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015 empowers the court to proceed with sentencing even in the absence of a defendant.

According to the court, Mamman could not claim any miscarriage of justice because he voluntarily absented himself from the proceedings.

Justice Omotosho sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine.

He also handed Mamman a three-year prison term on Count 4 with an option of a N10 million fine, while Count 5 attracted a two-year jail term without an option of fine.

The court ruled that all the sentences would run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.

Justice Omotosho further directed that the sentence should take effect from the date of Mamman’s arrest.

The court ordered 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 serve his sentence.

The judge also granted the prosecution’s request for the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to the former minister, alongside assorted foreign currency funds recovered during investigations.

The application, which was not challenged by Mamman’s counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, was granted by the court.

In addition, Justice Omotosho ordered the former minister to refund the outstanding balance between the assets already recovered and the N22 billion the prosecution successfully traced to him during trial from the alleged diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.

The court had earlier convicted Mamman in absentia on May 7 on the money laundering charges.