Court jails ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman 75 years over N33.8bn fraud

Abdullateef Fowewe

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison on Wednesday for laundering N33.8 billion linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric projects.

Mamman, absent from court, was convicted last week on 12 counts by the EFCC.

In a statement on Wednesday, the EFCC said, “Court Jails Saleh Mamman 75 years for N33.8billion Fraud Orders security agencies to arrest him.”

Count one charged: “That you, SALEH MAMMAN conspired with other officials to indirectly convert the total sum of N=33,804,830,503.73 which sums you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.”

Prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged forfeiture of properties in Abuja’s Kado Estate and Wuse, plus cash recoveries including $13,890, €19,960, and others.

The judge ordered security agencies to arrest Mamman and hand him to correctional services. Sentences run consecutively from arrest.