Written By | Agencies
Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman
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Abuja, Nigeria
A Nigerian court has sentenced former Power Minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison for money laundering involving 33.8 billion naira (approximately $24.7 million), in a landmark conviction against a high-ranking public official.
Mamman, 68, was found guilty last week on 12 counts of corruption-related offences. The court ruled on Wednesday that he used private companies to divert huge sums of money meant for government-funded power projects. The former minister was sentenced in absentia, according to Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which prosecuted the case.
Justice delivered the sentence after the court established that Mamman orchestrated elaborate schemes to siphon public funds during his tenure as Power Minister. The EFCC described the conviction as a significant milestone in the fight against high-level corruption in Nigeria, where convictions of politically exposed persons remain relatively rare.
Details of Mamman’s whereabouts were not immediately available, raising questions about whether he will be extradited if found outside the country.
The case has drawn considerable public attention, with many Nigerians viewing the stiff 75-year sentence as a strong deterrent against the misuse of public funds, particularly in the critical power sector that has long been plagued by inefficiency and massive corruption scandals.
This conviction comes amid renewed pressure on the Nigerian government to demonstrate seriousness in tackling graft among the political elite.
Further updates are expected as the EFCC moves to secure Mamman’s arrest and begin the process of asset recovery.
Torch Media Africa
