ABUJA — The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has officially convicted the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a high-profile money laundering case initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a decisive ruling delivered on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, found the former cabinet member guilty on all 12 counts preferred against him by the anti-graft agency.
Delivering the landmark judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the prosecution successfully proved its case against Mamman beyond a reasonable doubt. The court noted that the evidence presented throughout the trial clearly established the former minister’s direct involvement in the laundering and diversion of public funds. The conviction represents one of the most significant judicial outcomes involving a high-ranking official from the previous administration, signaling a major victory for the EFCC’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
Saleh Mamman served as the Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari from August 2019 until September 2021, when he was removed during a significant cabinet reshuffle. Following his exit from office, the EFCC launched an investigation into allegations that Mamman had conspired with various government officials and private entities to siphon funds intended for critical power sector projects. The commission alleged that massive sums of money were moved through a complex web of bank accounts and associates to conceal their origin.
During the proceedings, the prosecution bolstered its case with an extensive array of documents, including financial records and testimonies from witnesses who detailed how the funds were unlawfully handled. The court agreed with the EFCC that these transactions were in direct violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, characterizing the actions as a betrayal of public trust during a period when the nation’s power sector required urgent investment and transparency.
The conviction is being viewed by legal and political analysts as a landmark moment in the pursuit of accountability for former public office holders. It underscores a renewed vigor within the EFCC to finalize long-standing cases involving financial crimes and the misappropriation of state resources. While the guilt of the former minister has been established, details regarding the specific sentencing, length of imprisonment, and potential forfeiture orders for the diverted assets are expected to be announced by the court following the formal conviction ruling.
Given the scale of the funds involved and the critical nature of the power sector projects that were allegedly compromised, what impact do you believe this conviction will have on the public’s perception of the current administration’s commitment to cleaning up Nigeria’s infrastructure bureaucracy?
