By ABT News Anti-Corruption & Judiciary Desk
ABUJA — In a monumental victory for Nigeria’s fight against public sector graft, the Federal High Court in Abuja has handed down a crushing 75-year prison sentence to the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, over the brazen diversion of N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Delivering the landmark judgment today, Justice James Omotosho took an uncompromising stance against the blatant plundering of the nation’s commonwealth. In a rare and powerful show of judicial toughness, the judge ruled that Mamman’s sentences across the 12 counts of money laundering and fraud will run consecutively—meaning the 68-year-old former minister effectively faces the rest of his life behind bars.
Sentenced in Absentia: A Global Manhunt Begins
The dramatic sentencing unfolded with the convict visibly missing from the dock. Having sensed the walls closing in, Mamman failed to appear in court for the delivery of the guilty verdict on May 7, prompting the court to issue a bench warrant for his arrest.
With his defense counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, admitting today that Mamman’s whereabouts are unknown and his phones switched off, Justice Omotosho sentenced the fugitive ex-minister in absentia.
The judge immediately directed all domestic security agencies to collaborate with INTERPOL to launch a global manhunt, explicitly ordering that Mamman be apprehended wherever he is hiding on the globe and handed over to the Nigerian Correctional Service. His 75-year sentence will officially commence the moment the handcuffs click around his wrists.
Total Asset Forfeiture and Restitution
Beyond the jail term, the court has moved aggressively to recover the stolen wealth. Justice Omotosho ordered the final forfeiture of four choice properties traced to Mamman in Abuja, alongside massive stashes of foreign currencies recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Furthermore, the court ordered the disgraced ex-minister to refund the outstanding balance of N22 billion out of the N33.8 billion traced to the phantom execution of the critical national power projects.
Why This Matters: The Urgent Need to Stamp Out Corruption
This unprecedented 75-year sentence is more than just a legal ruling; it is a desperate wake-up call for Nigeria. For decades, the country has been paralyzed by systemic corruption, where public officeholders view the national treasury as their personal ATM.
The N33.8 billion looted by Mamman and his co-conspirators wasn’t just “government money”—it was the light that was supposed to illuminate Nigerian homes. It was the electricity meant to power local businesses, keep hospitals running, and drive industrial growth through the Zungeru and Mambilla power plants. While a few individuals acquired luxury real estate in Abuja with dollar payments, over 200 million Nigerians were plunged into darkness and economic hardship.
This judgment must serve as the blueprint for how the Nigerian justice system handles white-collar crimes. Slapping corrupt elites with a “slap on the wrist” or concurrent minimal sentences has historically emboldened politicians to steal more. By making Mamman’s sentences consecutive, Justice Omotosho has sent a chilling warning to current and future public servants: The era of stealing public funds and walking away to enjoy the loot is coming to an end.
To salvage the future of this nation, we must rigorously stamp out corruption at all levels. State resources should be rigorously protected, and those who betray the public trust must be relentlessly hunted down and made to face the absolute maximum wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed they are.
As the manhunt for Saleh Mamman intensifies, Nigerians watch with bated breath. The message is clear: You can run, but the long arm of justice will eventually catch up with you.
Stay tuned to www.abtnews.net for continuous updates on the manhunt and more exclusive investigative reports.
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