A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a N33.8 billion money laundering and fraud case.
Mamman was found guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The trial judge, James Omotosho, sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on 10 counts, while he received three years and two years imprisonment respectively on counts four and five.
The court ruled that the sentences would run consecutively and without the option of a fine, except for count four, where the convict was given the option of a N10 million fine.
Justice Omotosho also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from Mamman, alongside four high-value properties in Abuja linked to him.
The former minister was arraigned by the EFCC in July 2024 on a 12-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and conspiracy involving officials of the Ministry of Power and some private firms.
According to the anti-graft agency, the funds were allegedly diverted from allocations meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Mamman had pleaded not guilty to the charges marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
During the trial, the EFCC presented 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case.
On May 7, the court convicted Mamman in absentia after Justice Omotosho ruled that the EFCC had successfully proven the case against him beyond reasonable doubt.
The court also issued a warrant for his arrest.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, Mamman’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he did not know the whereabouts of his client, adding that attempts to reach him through his phone lines were unsuccessful.
Following the sentencing, Justice Omotosho directed all security agencies to collaborate with Interpol to ensure the arrest of the former minister.
The court further ruled that the prison sentence would begin from the date of his arrest.
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