Ex-Minister Saleh Mamman Bags 75 Years for N33.8 Billion Fraud Conviction

A former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has been sentenced to 75 years in prison by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja after being found guilty of money laundering and fraud involving N33.8 billion, in what the court described as one of the most significant financial crime convictions involving a former public official in recent years. The judgment on this case was delivered by Justice James Omotosho, he convicted Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following months of proceedings that examined multiple layers of alleged financial misconduct linked to his time in public office. In his ruling, the judge imposed seven-year prison terms on each of 10 counts, while counts four and five attracted three years and two years respectively. The sentences were ordered to run consecutively, bringing the total custodial term to 75 years. The court also held that there would be no option of fine, except on count four, which carries a N10 million fine option. Justice Omotosho further ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from Mamman, as well as four high-value properties in Abuja traced to him, describing them as proceeds of unlawful activity. The conviction marks a decisive outcome in a case that has drawn public attention due to both the scale of the alleged fraud and Mamman’s repeated absence from court proceedings during parts of the trial. Earlier proceedings at the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, had already set the tone for the latest development after Justice Maryann Anineh revoked Mamman’s bail and issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear in court. The court had been scheduled to continue hearing a separate nine-count charge involving allegations of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and intent to defraud, linked to an alleged N31,070,541,349.64 financial scheme. Mamman, alongside seven others, was being prosecuted in connection with alleged irregular financial transactions said to have taken place during his tenure as minister. The prosecution also told the court that Mamman “has remained out of circulation and without traces” since he was previously convicted on May 7, 2026, in another 12-count charge bordering on money laundering involving N33.8 billion, delivered by Justice Omotosho. At Monday’s session, prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo informed the court that Mamman’s absence was “both noticeable and obvious,” adding that neither the defendant nor his legal team had provided any explanation for his non-appearance. He also noted that Mamman had similarly failed to appear during earlier proceedings that led to his conviction on May 7. In response, defence counsel Femi Atteh argued that it was the prosecution’s responsibility to produce the defendant in court, particularly given the existing conviction and earlier bench warrant. But the prosecution firmly rejected the argument, insisting it was not their duty to account for the defendant’s whereabouts. Oyedepo urged the court to revoke Mamman’s bail and issue a fresh bench warrant, stating: “A defendant without reasonable justification absented from trial… the defendant is still in hiding.” He further urged the court to continue the proceedings in Mamman’s absence under Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which permits trial in absentia where a defendant absconds without justification. After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Maryann Anineh upheld the prosecution’s application, revoked Mamman’s bail, and ordered his arrest, directing that he be produced before the court at the next adjourned date. The latest 75-year sentence now consolidates what the court has described as proven large-scale financial crimes, bringing a dramatic turn to a prolonged legal battle that has moved between multiple courts and charges.