Saleh Mamman, Nigeria's former Minister of Power, has been sentenced to 75 years in prison following a rare, high-profile corruption conviction in a m
Saleh Mamman, Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, has been sentenced to 75 years in prison following a rare, high-profile corruption conviction in a major crackdown on financial crime.
Mamman, who served from 2019 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was found guilty on 12 counts of money laundering involving approximately 33.8 billion naira ($24.7 million USD) linked to government-funded hydroelectric projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru plants.
Delivering the judgment, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that the sentences run consecutively, alongside an order for Mamman to repay 22 billion naira ($16 million) and forfeit multiple properties.
The verdict, rendered in mid-May 2026, was passed in absentia after Mamman went into hiding shortly after his conviction, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stating he has been “out of circulation” and “without trace”.
The 68-year-old former minister had been facing charges related to using private companies to divert funds intended for essential power infrastructure, a scandal that has reignited public anger regarding Nigeria’s enduring electricity crisis.
The court has issued a warrant for his arrest, instructing both Nigerian security agencies and Interpol to apprehend him to begin his sentence.
This conviction marks a significant moment in the West African nation’s long-running efforts to tackle high-level corruption, as few former senior officials face such severe penalties.
The prosecution successfully argued that Mamman’s actions not only siphoned public funds but also directly caused delays in vital energy projects, leaving millions of citizens without stable power.
Despite the accusations, Mamman had reportedly announced plans to run for Taraba State governor in the 2027 elections just weeks before his sentencing.
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