The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, and sentenced him to a combined 75 years in prison over a ₦33.8 billion fraud linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment after finding Mamman guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, including conspiracy and money laundering charges.
The court ruled that the prison terms attached to each count would run consecutively, resulting in a total sentence of 75 years.
Court Orders Arrest of Former Minister
Justice Omotosho also directed security agencies to arrest Mamman wherever he may be found, as the judgment was delivered in his absence.
The judge further ordered that all funds and properties recovered during the investigation be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
In addition, the former minister was ordered to refund the outstanding balance from the ₦22 billion allegedly traced to funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydropower projects.
How the Fraud Case Began
The EFCC accused Mamman of working with ministry officials and private firms to divert billions of naira allocated for the execution of the two major electricity projects.
He was first arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 11, 2024, on a 12-count charge involving conspiracy and money laundering.
Mamman pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the trial, the EFCC presented 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits to support its case against the former minister.
Court Earlier Rejected No-Case Submission
After the prosecution closed its case, Mamman filed a no-case submission in November 2025, arguing that the EFCC had failed to establish sufficient evidence against him.
However, Justice Omotosho dismissed the application in December 2025, ruling that the prosecution had established a prima facie case requiring the defendant to open his defence.
The judge clarified at the time that the ruling did not amount to a conviction but simply meant there was enough evidence for the case to continue.
Major Corruption Verdict
The judgment marks the conclusion of one of Nigeria’s high-profile corruption trials involving public funds meant for critical power infrastructure projects.
The case began after Mamman was arrested and detained by the EFCC in May 2021 over allegations surrounding the management of funds allocated to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric projects.