A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has been sentenced to 75 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Abuja over a ₦33.8 billion money laundering fraud linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday after earlier convicting Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mamman, who was absent during the sentencing proceedings, was prosecuted over the alleged laundering of ₦33,804,830,503.73 while serving as Minister of Power.
The court also ordered national and international security agencies to arrest and hand over the former minister to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, told the court that the convict failed to appear for sentencing and no satisfactory explanation was provided by his legal team. He urged the court to proceed with sentencing in absentia in line with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each 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 four with an option of a ₦10 million fine and two years imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.
The judge ruled that the sentences would run consecutively from the date of Mamman’s arrest.
The court also granted the EFCC’s request for the forfeiture of several properties and cash linked to the former minister.
The forfeited assets include two four-bedroom detached apartments located at 93 Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja, and another property at No. 12A and B, Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.
Justice Omotosho also ordered the forfeiture of recovered foreign currencies, including $13,890, €19,960, £10,000, 42,390 Doran, R35,000, ₹50,60,00 and 247 Saudi Riyals.
Additionally, the court directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance between the recovered funds and the remaining amount out of the ₦22 billion for which he was found guilty.
According to the EFCC, the former minister conspired with ministry officials and private firms in 2019 to divert funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects through multiple companies.
One of the charges accused Mamman and others of laundering over ₦33.8 billion proceeds of unlawful activities tied to the projects, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
