A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering involving about ₦33.8 billion.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully proved its case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt.
The court convicted Mamman on all counts contained in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was found guilty of illegally diverting public funds earmarked for critical power projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
Justice Omotosho held that the former minister made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million, for a landed property in Abuja without passing through any financial institution, contrary to financial regulations.
The court further found that large sums of the diverted funds were routed through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies before handing them over to the defendant.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” the judge ruled.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” he added.
Justice Omotosho also criticised the former minister for failing to leave a positive legacy in the power sector.
Read Also:
“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. Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” the judge said.
Mamman was absent from court during the delivery of the judgment, prompting the court to defer sentencing.
Following his absence, the EFCC applied for a warrant for his arrest.
Counsel to the defendant, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that Mamman’s whereabouts had remained unknown since Tuesday when notice of the judgment date was issued. He added that the defendant’s personal assistant later informed him that the former minister was ill.
However, the court rejected the defence request for a postponement of judgment.
Justice Omotosho referenced reports suggesting that Mamman had recently been involved in political activities, including the purchase of a governorship nomination form in Taraba State.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the judgment, insisting there was no valid reason for the defendant’s absence.
“My Lord should go ahead. If the judgment is in his favour, we know what to do. If it is against him, we also know what to do,” Oyedepo said.
Mamman was arrested by the EFCC in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office by the Buhari administration.
During the trial, the anti-graft agency presented 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits in support of its case.
The EFCC alleged that the former minister conspired with ministry officials to divert about ₦22 billion meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric projects and used the proceeds to acquire luxury assets within and outside Nigeria.
