The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has rearrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following his N33bn fraud conviction over the alleged diversion of public funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects. The anti-graft agency confirmed that Mamman was apprehended in Kaduna after a surveillance operation conducted days after a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on multiple fraud-related counts.
The N33bn fraud conviction stems from charges filed by the EFCC accusing Mamman of laundering and diverting funds allocated to strategic electricity infrastructure projects during his tenure as Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier found the former minister guilty on 12 counts bordering on fraud, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust. The court ruled that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt after presenting documentary exhibits and witness testimonies during the trial.
The court subsequently sentenced Mamman to 75 years imprisonment after concluding that public funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects were unlawfully diverted through Bureau de Change operators and private channels.
The N33bn fraud conviction became the basis for a warrant of arrest issued after Mamman failed to appear in court for sentencing proceedings earlier in May.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede announced during a media briefing in Abuja that the former minister was arrested around 3:30 a.m. in Kaduna following intelligence-led surveillance operations. According to the EFCC, investigators also arrested two individuals accused of allegedly shielding the former minister while he remained out of public view after the court judgment.
During the trial, prosecutors told the court that Mamman conspired with ministry officials and associates to divert approximately ₦33.8 billion allocated for federal electricity projects. Evidence presented included financial transfers, cash transactions, and property acquisitions allegedly linked to the diverted funds.
The court also held that the defendant made a cash payment of $655,700 for property acquisition in Abuja without using a financial institution, contrary to financial regulations. The N33bn fraud conviction followed years of investigation and prosecution by the anti-graft agency after Mamman was first arrested in 2021 following his removal from office.
The N33bn fraud conviction represents one of the most significant corruption-related rulings involving a former cabinet member in recent years. The case has renewed attention on accountability in Nigeria’s power sector, which has faced longstanding concerns over infrastructure funding and project execution. The development also highlights ongoing efforts by the EFCC and the judiciary to strengthen enforcement against financial crimes involving public officials and major government projects.
