A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison over a fraud and money laundering case involving about ₦33.8 billion.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment after finding Mamman guilty on all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment on 10 counts. He also received three years imprisonment on one count and two years on another count. The judge ruled that the jail terms would run one after the other. However, the court allowed him the option of paying a ₦10 million fine on count four.
The court further ordered the seizure of several foreign currencies and four properties in Abuja connected to the illegal funds.
Justice Omotosho held that the anti-graft agency successfully proved its allegations against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt. The judge said the defence team failed to provide convincing evidence to challenge the prosecution’s case.
During the trial, the court found Mamman guilty of making a cash payment of $655,700 for a property in Abuja without going through any financial institution, which violated financial regulations.
The former minister was also convicted over money diverted from the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
According to the court, instead of using his office to improve electricity supply in the country, the former minister benefited personally while many Nigerians continued to struggle with poor power supply.
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