Isaac Samuel
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who was recently convicted and sentenced by the Federal High Court, Abuja, for financial misappropriation.
This followed his conviction and 75-year jail sentence over a N22 billion fraud linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed that Mamman was arrested on Tuesday around 3:30 am.
Olukoyede confirmed that the former minister was arrested in Kaduna, along with two others who were protecting him.
The arrest came after Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, ordered security agencies to apprehend the former minister wherever he may be found following his conviction on corruption-related charges.
Justice Omotosho had on Wednesday convicted Mamman on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of public funds amounting to about N22 billion.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced the former minister to various prison terms across the counts, which are to run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.
The judge further ruled that the sentence would take effect from the date of Mamman’s arrest.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of all monies and properties recovered from the convict to the Federal Government and directed him to refund the outstanding balance of the diverted funds traced to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
The EFCC had prosecuted Mamman over alleged fraudulent transactions and diversion of funds earmarked for critical electricity infrastructure projects under the Ministry of Power.
The Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric projects are among Nigeria’s flagship electricity expansion initiatives aimed at boosting national power generation and improving energy supply.
