BREAKING: Court jails ex-power minister Saleh Mamma 75 Years

A federal high court in Abuja has sentenced Saleh Mamman, a former minister of power, to 75 years in prison after finding him guilty of fraud to the tune of N33.8 billion.

Mamman was convicted on all the 12 counts filed against the former minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was sentenced to seven years each on 10 counts and handed three years and two years each on counts four and five of the charge.

The judge, Justice James Omotosho, held that the sentence should run consecutively without the option of a fine, except on count four, which allows for a N10 million fine.

READ MORE  2023: Atiku’s emergence as PDP candidate will open ways for Nigerians, says BOT

The court also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies that were recovered from the convict, as well as four choice properties in Abuja that were traced to him.

In July 2024, the EFCC arraigned Mamman on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and conspiracy with officials at the ministry and some private companies to “indirectly convert” the sum of N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
The EFCC had called 17 witnesses who testified before the court and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case.
On May 7, Mamman was convicted in absentia.
Omotosho held that he was satisfied that the anti-graft agency had successfully established the ex-minister’s culpability beyond reasonable doubt.
Meanwhile, the court has issued a warrant of arrest of the former minister after Mohammed Ahmed, who announced his appearance for the convict on Wednesday, told the court that he did not know Mamman’s whereabout.
He told the court that even calls placed to his phone lines had failed to connect.
After the sentencing, Omotosho ordered all security agencies to liaise with Interpol to ensure the convict’s arrest.
The court held that the sentence should start from the day of his arrest.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here