A federal high court in Abuja on Thursday convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution successfully proved the case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found Mamman guilty on all counts in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was convicted over the unlawful diversion of public funds amounting to about ₦33.8 billion.
The court further held that the former minister made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million, for a property in Abuja without using a financial institution.
He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust linked to funds allocated by the federal government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the court, a large portion of the funds was allegedly routed through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies and handed it over to the defendant.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho ruled.
The judge criticised the former minister for failing to leave a positive legacy in the power sector.
“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 added.
Mamman was absent from court during the judgment.
As a result, the court postponed sentencing, while the EFCC requested that a warrant be issued for his arrest.
Defence counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that the defendant’s whereabouts had been unknown since Tuesday, when notice of the judgment date was issued.
According to the lawyer, the defendant’s personal assistant later claimed he was ill.
Efforts by the defence to secure a postponement of the judgment were unsuccessful.
Justice Omotosho referenced media reports indicating that Mamman had recently participated 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 continue with the proceedings, 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,” the prosecutor said.
Mamman was arrested in 2021, roughly four months after he was removed from office by former President Buhari.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Mamman conspired with officials of the ministry to divert about ₦22 billion earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the EFCC, investigations showed that the diverted funds were used to acquire high-value assets both within and outside Nigeria.
