Ex-Minister Mamman Jailed for Record 75 Years in Landmark Corruption Verdict

The re-arrest of former Nigerian Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in May, following his conviction for money laundering, brought renewed attention to the pervasive issue of corruption within Nigeria’s power sector. Pictured in handcuffs, the former minister's apprehension came after he failed to appear for his sentencing. On May 7, the Federal High Court in Abuja found Mamman guilty of laundering a staggering N33.8 billion, funds originally designated for crucial electricity projects in Nigeria. Twelve days later, on May 19, the court delivered a historic sentence, condemning him to a cumulative 75 years in prison. The 68-year-old received seven years for each of 10 counts, two years for one count, and three years for another, with all sentences ordered to run consecutively.

Mamman's conviction casts a harsh light on how corruption has consistently undermined electricity reform efforts across successive administrations, exacerbating Nigeria's persistent power crisis. Despite massive public spending over the years, the nation continues to grapple with severe power shortages. At the core of Mamman’s trial was the brazen theft of funds intended for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydropower schemes. These vital projects were designed to add nearly 4,000 megawatts to Nigeria’s electricity grid; however, the $5.8 billion, 3,050 MW Mambilla Hydropower Project in Taraba State has remained stalled since its conception in the 1970s, while the 700 MW Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station in Niger State, initiated in 2013, is nearing completion.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought 12 money laundering charges against Mamman under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011. He was accused of diverting billions of naira released for these critical power projects between 2019 and 2022, breaching public trust, and splurging the funds on personal luxury and property acquisition in prime areas of Abuja. The first count alleged a conspiracy with ministry officials and private companies to convert over N33.8 billion in 2019. Subsequent counts (2-8) traced the stolen money to its lavish expenditure, while the final category of offenses (counts 9-12) detailed the diversion of millions of naira through criminal breach of trust between January 2020 and December 2022. Mamman denied the allegations when arraigned in July 2024, and was granted N10 billion bail, which was later revoked due to his absence during another trial.

During the trial, the EFCC presented a compelling case, calling 17 witnesses and tendering approximately 43 exhibits through lead prosecution lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN. Notably, Mr. Mamman presented no defense witnesses to refute the prosecution’s evidence. Court filings reviewed by PREMIUM TIMES, alongside previous reports, provided a clear picture of Mamman's extravagant spending at the expense of national development. A key revelation was the purchase of a N200 million property in Abuja, paid for with dollar cash, a transaction that flagrantly violated anti-money laundering laws.

Specifically, the prosecution accused Mamman of conspiring with Samson Bitrus to make a $655,700 cash payment—equivalent to N200 million at the time—to Mohiba Investment Limited for a property at No. 12 A & B, Lungi Street, Off Cairo Street, Wuse II, Abuja, in 2019. This cash payment bypassed financial institutions, contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, which prohibit cash payments above N5 million outside a financial institution. Mohammed Asheik Jidda, representing Mohiba Investment, testified as the 14th prosecution witness, confirming the cash transaction. Samson Bitrus, a real estate agent and the 12th prosecution witness, detailed how Mamman instructed him to find the property and how he later witnessed the physical counting of the dollar equivalent at the seller's office. Rent proceeds from this property were subsequently deposited into an account linked to Nasiru Mamman, a relative, further linking the ex-minister to the illicit gains.

Counts 6 to 12 specifically detailed how Mamman laundered power sector funds through a sophisticated scheme of criminal breach of trust. Funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru projects were diverted from Federal Ministry of Power accounts at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) into the bank accounts of various Bureau de Change (BDC) operators, including Prymint Investment, Strongfield International Project Limited, and Mintedge Nigeria Limited, among others. These entities had no known contracts with the ministry. Abubakar Kweido, an EFCC investigator, testified that these companies, owned and maintained by Suleiman Abdullahi (the ninth prosecution witness), served as conduits to convert stolen funds into cash. The diverted funds were then used for Mamman's personal expenses, including accommodation at Sammy Court Resort.

Further evidence revealed that Mamman’s lavish spending continued even after his removal from office on September 1, 2021. Counts 7 to 9 documented N47 million spent on long-stay accommodation at Sammy Court Resort between 2019 and January 2022. Retired Colonel Adebisi Adesanya, the resort owner, testified that Mamman expended N20 million from Mambilla project funds on his stay. Additionally, Counts 10 to 12 alleged that Mamman’s personal assistant, Misbahu Idris, incurred a total cost of N777.3 million charged to the stolen hydropower projects funds between January 2020 and December 2022. Although defense lawyers attempted to distance Mamman from direct control of the ministry's funds, they did not call any witnesses, choosing instead to challenge the fairness of the hearing and the validity of the charges.

Judge Omotosho, after reviewing all the evidence, delivered the judgment on May 7, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts. The judge found that the prosecution had convincingly established that Mamman and his associates stole at least N22 billion, confirming the use of proxy companies and associates to benefit from public resources meant for critical national infrastructure. Mamman was absent from court during the judgment, leading to an immediate arrest warrant. Despite setting May 13 for sentencing, Mamman remained at large. The judge proceeded to sentence him to 75 years imprisonment that day, explicitly ordering the sentences to run consecutively—a decision that made the cumulative jail time unprecedented. On May 19, EFCC operatives finally apprehended Mamman in Rigasa, Kaduna, following an intelligence-led operation. He is also currently standing trial at the FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on separate N31 billion fraud charges.

Mr. Mamman’s 75-year jail term stands as the severest retribution ever handed to a politically exposed person for official corruption under Nigeria’s democratic dispensations. The consecutive nature of the sentences means each term will run sequentially, ensuring he serves the full cumulative period, unlike concurrent sentences where terms run simultaneously. This starkly contrasts with previous high-profile cases, such as former Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye (14 years, later reduced to 10), former Taraba State Governor Jolly Nyame (14 years, later reduced to 12), and former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu (12 years, later nullified). Even in cases with numerous counts, like former NEXIM MD Robert Orya’s 10 years on each of 49 counts, sentences were ordered to run concurrently, resulting in a much shorter effective jail term. Lawyer Sherif Aduke described it as one of the 'stiffest in history,' highlighting that the jail time would extend far beyond the expected lifespan of a 68-year-old. He noted the court's apparent emphasis on the importance of the power sector and the scale of funds involved.

Auwal Musa, Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, recognized the sentence as a significant deterrent against public looting. However, Musa stressed that while imprisonment is crucial, full recovery of stolen funds is equally important to prevent perpetrators from benefiting from their illicit gains. Tunde Salman, convener of Good Governance Team Nigeria, hailed the judgment as evidence of Nigeria's growing seriousness in anti-corruption enforcement, noting that judicial processes have often concluded without strong punitive convictions. Salman believes the judgment sends a potent message to politically exposed persons and public officials, reinforcing the public's desire for serious sentencing that serves as a powerful deterrent, not just in length, but in its unwavering resolve against corruption.