By: Nana Karikari
A Federal High Court in Nigeria has delivered a landmark ruling against former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman. Justice James Omotosho sentenced the former official to 75 years in prison for his role in a massive money laundering scheme. This conviction marks a significant moment in Abuja’s ongoing struggle to hold high-ranking public officials accountable for the misappropriation of state resources. The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024, underscores the aggressive stance taken by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against high-level graft.
Conviction on All Counts
The court found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering. Justice Omotosho stated that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The judge noted that the former minister’s absence during the proceedings was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the administration of justice. Relying on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the court agreed with EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) that sentencing could validly proceed despite the defendant’s absence.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” Justice Omotosho held. “The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case.”
Breakdown of the 75 Year Term
The court ordered the prison terms to run consecutively rather than concurrently. Mamman received seven years of imprisonment for each of 10 different counts. Additionally, the judge sentenced him to three years on count four and two years on count five. While most counts lacked an option for a fine, the court allowed a 10 million naira fine (approximately 82,475 GHS) option specifically for count four.
Diversion of Power Infrastructure Funds
The charges centered on the laundering of 33.8 billion naira (approximately 278.8 million GHS), through private companies and Bureau de Change operators. Prosecutors established that these funds were diverted from critical government-financed hydroelectric projects. Specifically, the money was linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru power plants, which are vital to solving Nigeria’s chronic electricity shortages. The court found that funds were siphoned through operators who converted the naira into foreign currency for the defendant.
“Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens,” the judge added. “Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today.”
Asset Forfeiture and Financial Restitution
Beyond the prison sentence, the court ordered the final forfeiture of recovered funds and foreign currencies linked to the convict. Four choice properties in Abuja traced to Mamman were also seized by the state. The judge further directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the 22 billion naira (approximately 181.4 million GHS) that the prosecution proved was diverted. Evidence showed Mamman made a cash payment of $655,700 (approximately 7.4 million GHS), equivalent to 200 million naira (approximately 1.65 million GHS), for landed property in Abuja without recourse to a financial institution.
Global Manhunt for the Fugitive Minister
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was sentenced in absentia after his whereabouts became unknown. His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that calls to the former minister had failed to connect. Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered all Nigerian security agencies and Interpol to arrest Mamman. The 75-year sentence will officially commence on the date of his eventual arrest and handover to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Strengthening the African Anti Corruption Corridor
The sentencing of Mamman coincides with a surge in regional cooperation aimed at curbing financial crimes across West Africa. This development echoes recent resolutions from the May 2026 Commonwealth anti-corruption meeting in Yaoundé, where African leaders emphasized the harmonization of legal frameworks to prevent high-profile fugitives from evading justice. For neighboring nations like Ghana, which have recently faced their own calls for increased transparency in energy sector
procurement, the Nigerian ruling serves as a judicial precedent for the protection of infrastructure budgets. The use of Interpol to track a former cabinet member signals a hardening of borders against the movement of illicit wealth within the ECOWAS region.
Impact on Governance and Accountability
The conviction of a former cabinet member represents a rare victory for Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies in a nation where high-profile cases often languish for years. While the sentence sends a stern warning to public officials regarding the management of infrastructure funds, the immediate challenge for the government remains the location and extradition of Mamman. For a populace long frustrated by widespread power outages, the ruling offers a measure of judicial accountability, yet the path to finishing the Mambilla and Zungeru projects remains shadowed by the financial void left by the diverted billions. As Africa intensifies its focus on institutional integrity, the Mamman case will likely be viewed as a litmus test for the continent’s ability to turn judicial verdi
