Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12 counts of money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion.
The case is linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission prosecuted Mamman over the alleged laundering of ₦33,804,830,503.73.
The anti-graft agency said the funds were moved through private companies while Mamman served as Minister of Power in 2019.
One of the charges alleged that Mamman conspired with ministry officials and private firms to divert public funds.
The EFCC said the money came from allocations meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
Another count accused Mamman and Samson Bitrus of making a cash payment of $665,700 outside the banking system.
The payment allegedly went to Mohiba Investment Ltd through Mohammed Asheik Jidda.
According to the prosecution, the transaction violated provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.
Mamman was absent from court when the judgment was delivered on Thursday.
Defence counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that his legal team received notice of the judgment earlier in the week.
Ahmed said efforts to contact the former minister failed.
He added that one of Mamman’s associates later claimed that the former minister was ill.
However, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, rejected the explanation.
Oyedepo argued that the defence failed to provide any medical report to support the claim.
Justice Omotosho also criticised the defence over conflicting explanations about Mamman’s whereabouts.
“The defendant is not here, and there is no medical report to back this. We are all ministers in the temple of justice, counsel,” the judge said.
The court later proceeded with the judgment and convicted Mamman on all 12 counts.
Justice Omotosho fixed May 13, 2026, for sentencing.
The judge said sentencing could not proceed because the former minister was not physically present in court.
To prevent Mamman from fleeing, the prosecution requested a bench warrant for his arrest.
The court granted the application.
