Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Power and Steel Minister Saleh Mamman on all 12 counts of a ₦33.8 billion fraud and money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In a blistering judgment delivered on Thursday, May 7, 2026, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the anti‑graft agency had established the former minister’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The court found that Mamman, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was complicit in the illegal diversion of public funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects. The judgment marked the climax of a trial that began in July 2024 and saw the EFCC parade 17 witnesses and 43 exhibits before the court.
Justice Omotosho’s ruling minced no words. He noted that the prosecution had presented “overwhelming” evidence against Mamman, while the defence offered “scanty and almost absent” evidence to rebut the case. The court found that the former minister masterminded a complex money‑laundering scheme using Bureau de Change (BDC) operators who converted naira funds into foreign currencies and handed them over to the defendant. A single count of the 12‑count charge alleged that Mamman made a cash payment of $655,700 (equivalent to ₦200 million) for a landed property in Abuja without recourse to a financial institution, a direct violation of money‑laundering laws. The EFCC also proved that Mamman and accomplices within the ministry diverted about ₦22 billion from the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects, using the proceeds to acquire choice assets both within and outside the country.
The judgment was particularly scathing about the defendant’s conduct as a public official. “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,” the judge held. “Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today.” Those words resonate deeply with a public that has endured decades of power grid collapses, blackouts, and unfulfilled promises of incremental electricity reforms. The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, awarded in 2003, remains uncompleted; the Zungeru project, originally scheduled for completion in 2018, has seen repeated deadline extensions and cost overruns. The diversion of funds that should have accelerated these critical infrastructure projects has compounded the nation’s energy crisis and deepened public cynicism about high‑profile anti‑corruption prosecutions.
In a dramatic twist, Mamman was conspicuously absent when the judgment was delivered. His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that since the hearing notice was served on Tuesday, all efforts to reach the former minister had failed. He claimed that an associate had disclosed that Mamman was “indisposed” but could not produce any medical report to substantiate the illness. The defence also noted that Mamman had been diligent in attending court throughout the two‑year trial, a point the judge acknowledged but ultimately set aside. The EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who also serves as the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, urged the court to proceed with the judgment, arguing that the court had discretionary power under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, to proceed in the defendant’s absence when no reasonable justification is provided.
Justice Omotosho agreed. He noted that the defendant’s own lawyer had aligned with the prosecution’s submission that the court could proceed with the judgment. Ahmed had stated that if the judgment was in Mamman’s favour, the matter would be resolved, but if he was convicted, the court could proceed with sentencing on another date. The judge also pointed to news items indicating that the defendant had been actively involved in political activities, having purchased forms to contest the governorship election in Taraba State – a fact inconsistent with a claim of sudden illness. Consequently, the court convicted Mamman on all 12 counts but deferred the sentence. The EFCC immediately applied for a warrant of arrest to be issued against the former minister, whose whereabouts remain unknown. The prosecution stated that if Mamman fails to appear, he will be arrested and brought before the court for sentencing.
The conviction of Saleh Mamman is one of the high‑profile successes in the EFCC’s campaign against grand corruption, and it comes after a long and winding legal battle. Mamman was arrested in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office by ex‑President Buhari. He was first arraigned in July 2024 on the 12‑count charge. The EFCC’s case relied heavily on financial records, witness testimony from bank compliance officers, and the evidence of BDC operators who participated in the money‑laundering scheme. In December 2025, Justice Omotosho dismissed a no‑case submission filed by Mamman, ordering him to open his defence – a ruling that the EFCC hailed as a vindication of its investigative work. The defence called only a handful of witnesses and, according to the court, failed to offer any credible explanation for the suspicious cash payments and the diversion of project funds.
For the EFCC, the conviction sends a clear signal that even high‑ranking political figures are not immune from prosecution. However, the absence of the convict on the day of judgment has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the bail system and the supervision of high‑profile suspects. The court’s decision to issue a warrant of arrest is aimed at compelling Mamman to appear for sentencing, a proceeding that will determine whether he faces prison time or other sanctions. Legal analysts note that the penalties for money laundering and criminal breach of trust under Nigerian law can include significant prison terms, forfeiture of illegally acquired assets, and restitution of diverted funds. Depending on the sentencing, the EFCC may also initiate separate proceedings for the recovery of the properties and assets traced to the former minister.
The Mamman conviction is also significant for the political landscape, particularly in Taraba State, where the former power minister had purchased governorship nomination forms. With a conviction now on his record, Mamman is likely barred from contesting elections, a development that will reshape the internal dynamics of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The party has yet to comment on the conviction, but political observers expect that the leadership will move quickly to declare the ticket vacant and initiate a fresh process for selecting a candidate. Meanwhile, the Presidency has not issued any official statement on the judgment, but anti‑corruption campaigners have hailed it as a major milestone in the fight against impunity.
As the court prepares for the sentencing hearing, the EFCC has intensified its search for the former minister. The commission has alerted all border posts, airports, and seaports to be on the lookout for Mamman, and has issued a public appeal for information on his whereabouts. The warrant of arrest is also a signal that the state will not tolerate any attempt to evade justice by fleeing the country or going into hiding. For the millions of Nigerians who have watched the Mambilla and Zungeru projects stall and the national power grid collapse, the conviction of a minister who allegedly fed on the funds meant to keep the lights on is a rare and welcome moment. As Justice Omotosho said from the bench, the dark irony of the case is that Nigerians remain in darkness – but perhaps, with this conviction, the light at the end of the tunnel is no longer a mirage.
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