The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over the diversion of about ₦33.8 billion in public funds.

Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts of fraud and money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The court sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment on 10 counts, while he received three years and two years respectively on counts four and five. Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences would run consecutively, meaning the terms would be served one after another.

However, the judge gave the convict an option of a ₦10 million fine on count four alone. The court also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from him, alongside four properties in Abuja linked to the fraud.

The court had earlier convicted Mamman in absentia on May 7 after finding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt in charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.

According to the judgment, Mamman illegally paid $655,700 in cash — equivalent to about ₦200 million — for a property in Abuja without using any financial institution, contrary to financial regulations.

The court further held that funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects were diverted through Bureau de Change operators, who allegedly converted the money into foreign currencies and delivered it to the former minister.

Justice Omotosho described the evidence presented by the prosecution as “overwhelming,” adding that the defence failed to provide credible evidence to counter the allegations.

The judge also criticised the former minister’s handling of public office, saying he failed to leave behind a meaningful legacy in the power sector despite persistent electricity challenges in Nigeria.

Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was absent during both his conviction and sentencing. His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court he did not know the ex-minister’s whereabouts and that attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful.

Following the sentencing, the court directed Nigerian security agencies to work with Interpol to arrest the former minister, stating that his prison term would begin from the date of his arrest.