The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday found former Minister of Power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, guilty on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the anti-graft agency had proven the former minister’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
The court convicted Mamman on all charges in case number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, was found culpable in the unlawful diversion of public funds estimated at about ₦33.8 billion.
The court also established that he made a cash payment of $655,700 (about ₦200 million) for a property in Abuja without going through any financial institution.
He was also found guilty of criminal breach of trust in connection with funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
Justice Omotosho noted that a significant portion of the funds was diverted throug Bureau de Change operators (BDCs), who converted the money into foreign currencies before allegedly handing it over to the defendant.
He further stated that the prosecution’s evidence was overwhelming, while the defendant’s defence was described as minimal and largely unconvincing.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho held.
The trial judge decried that the defendant, as Minister of Power Mamman, was not bothered about leaving a lasting legacy.
“Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” the judge added.
However, the defendant Mamman was not present in court at the time of his conviction.
Following this, the court postponed the sentencing, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) applied for a warrant of arrest to be issued against him.
A lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, who announced his appearance for the defendant, informed the court that since last Tuesday when the judgment date was communicated, the defendant’s whereabouts had been unknown.
He added that the defendant’s personal assistant later claimed he was ill.
The defence lawyer’s spirited efforts to persuade the court to defer the judgment to a later date failed.
The trial judge referenced news items indicating that the defendant had been actively involved in political activities, having purchased a form to contest the governorship election in Taraba State.
On his part, the EFCC’s lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the judgment, insisting there was no reasonable justification for the defendant’s absence.
“My Lord should go ahead. If the judgment is in his favour, we know what to do. If it is against him, we also know what to do,” the prosecution counsel added.
Mamman was arrested in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and presented 43 exhibits before closing its case.
The commission alleged that he conspired with officials of the ministry to divert about ₦22 billion earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
It further stated that investigations showed the diverted funds were used to acquire high-value assets both within and outside Nigeria.
