ABUJA — In a landmark ruling that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political and energy sectors, the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to a total of 75 years’ imprisonment. The conviction follows a sprawling multi-billion naira corruption scandal involving the misappropriation of funds intended for the nation's most critical infrastructure projects: the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power plants.
Presiding Judge Justice James Omotosho delivered the scathing judgment after finding the former minister guilty on all 12 counts of conspiracy and money laundering. The charges, which were brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), centered on the diversion of approximately ₦33.8 billion originally earmarked to address Nigeria's chronic electricity deficit.
Justice Omotosho, in a firm display of judicial authority, ordered that the various prison terms imposed for each count must run consecutively, rather than concurrently. This decision brings the total cumulative sentence to 75 years, a move seen by legal analysts as a stern warning against the systemic plundering of public resources.
However, in a dramatic twist to the high-profile case, the former minister was sentenced in absentia. Consequently, Justice Omotosho directed that the sentence shall begin to run from the actual date of the convict's arrest. To ensure the judgment is executed, the court has issued a standing order to all national security agencies to locate and apprehend Mamman wherever he may be found.
Beyond the prison term, the court took aggressive steps toward restitution. Justice Omotosho ruled that all monies and properties already recovered from the former minister must be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. Furthermore, Mamman has been ordered to refund the outstanding balance of the ₦22 billion that investigators successfully traced back to funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru projects.
The conviction marks the conclusion of a exhaustive legal battle that began with Mamman’s initial arrest by the EFCC on May 10, 2021. The prosecution’s case painted a vivid picture of institutional corruption, alleging that the former minister conspired with senior ministry officials and several private entities to siphon funds from the national treasury through shell companies and complex financial maneuvers.
Throughout the lengthy trial, the EFCC presented a formidable body of evidence, calling 17 witnesses to the stand and tendering 43 distinct exhibits. These exhibits included bank statements, internal ministry memos, and contractual documents that documented the movement of the missing ₦33.8 billion.
Saleh Mamman was officially arraigned on July 11, 2024. Despite the weight of the evidence, he maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, pleading not guilty to all 12 charges. Following the close of the prosecution's case, Mamman’s legal team attempted to halt the proceedings by filing a no-case submission on November 19, 2025. They argued that the EFCC’s evidence was insufficient to link their client to the crimes or to require him to enter a formal defense.
Justice Omotosho, however, rejected that argument in a pivotal ruling on December 11, 2025. The judge held that the prosecution had successfully established a prima facie case, meaning that the evidence was significant enough that the allegations could not simply be dismissed without a response from the accused. While Justice Omotosho clarified at the time that the ruling was not a declaration of guilt, it signaled that the legal walls were closing in on the former minister.
The defense was scheduled to begin its presentation on February 23, 2026. However, Mamman’s subsequent failure to appear in court led to the issuance of Wednesday's judgment in his absence.
The Zungeru and Mambilla projects have long been considered the "crown jewels" of Nigeria’s renewable energy strategy. The Mambilla project, in particular, was designed to be one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Africa, promised to generate over 3,000 megawatts of electricity. The diversion of funds from these projects has not only resulted in financial loss but has contributed to significant delays in stabilizing the nation’s power grid, a failure that continues to impact millions of Nigerian citizens and businesses.
Anti-corruption advocates have hailed the judgment as a victory for accountability. The EFCC has praised the judiciary for its resilience in seeing the case to its conclusion, noting that the sentencing of a high-ranking official like a former minister demonstrates that no individual is above the law, regardless of their former proximity to power.
As security forces now mobilize for a nationwide manhunt, the conviction of Saleh Mamman serves as a stark reminder of the long reach of the law in the fight against financial crimes. For a nation that has struggled for decades to secure a reliable power supply, the 75-year sentence offers a sense of judicial closure, even as the search for the missing billions and the fugitive minister continues.
