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By Correspondent in Abuja.
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over a multi-billion naira money laundering case involving funds allegedly diverted from critical power projects across the country.
Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the judgment in Mamman’s absence, also issued a warrant for his arrest and directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce him in court for sentencing on May 13.
The court found the former minister guilty on all 12 counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering involving about N33.8 billion allegedly earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt, saying evidence before the court showed that at least,N22 billion was siphoned through proxy companies and accomplices linked to the former minister.
“The prosecution has established that, at least, N22 billion was siphoned by the defendant and his cronies. This is sufficient to sustain the charge,” the judge ruled.
He described Mamman’s conduct as “a downright shameful thing,” lamenting that funds meant to address Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis were allegedly diverted for personal gain.
“For a defendant who held such a critical office as Minister of Power, rather than creating a legacy of solving epileptic power supply, he began siphoning and converting monies meant for serious projects into private pockets,.
“The defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary Nigerians who suffered the consequences of his malfeasance. Little wonder Nigeria has remained in darkness,”the judge said.
Shortly after the conviction, EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, applied for a warrant of arrest, arguing that Mamman had become a convict and should be compelled to appear for sentencing.
“We therefore ask for an arrest warrant and a date for sentencing,” Oyedepo told the court.
Mamman’s counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, however, pleaded for an adjournment to enable the defence locate and present the former minister in court.
The lawyer admitted that the legal team had been unable to establish direct contact with their client and could only attempt to reach him through his personal assistant.
But Justice Omotosho rejected the request, accusing the defence of attempting to frustrate the judgment.
“This is an attempt to arrest the judgment which the court will not fall into,” the judge declared.
The court subsequently fixed May 13 for sentencing and ordered the EFCC to ensure Mamman’s appearance.
Our correspondent recalls that the anti-graft agency had arraigned the former minister in July 2024 on allegations that he conspired with ministry officials and private firms to divert funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits to support its case.
Among the prosecution witnesses was a Bureau De Change operator, Abdullahi Suleman, who testified that transactions linked to the alleged fraud ran into about N22 billion between 2019 and 2024.
The witness further told the court that one Maina Goje regularly supplied account details for dollar transactions and often sent an associate identified as “Yaron Minister” to collect funds allegedly linked to the former minister.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
