Former minister of power Salem Mamman has been sentenced to seventy-five (75) years in jail today.
ENigeria Newspaper gathered that Mamman was charged with 12 counts by the EFCC in July 2024, including suspected money laundering and conspiracy with ministry officials and certain private firms to “indirectly convert” N33.8 billion intended for the hydroelectric power projects in Zungeru and Mambilla.
He had, however, entered a not guilty plea to the FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024 accusation. Before concluding its case, the EFCC presented 43 evidence and called 17 witnesses to testify before the court.
On Wednesday 13th of May, the convict was absent in court and the convict’s attorney, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court on Wednesday that he was unaware of Mamman’s location and that calls to his phone lines had been unsuccessful. Following this convictions, Justice Omotosho, who was the residing judge, mandated that all security services communicate with Interpol in order to guarantee the convict’s apprehension.
Subsequently, the former minister of power, was given a 75-year prison sentence by a federal high court in Abuja for money laundering and fraud totaling N33.8 billion.
Justice Omotosho found Mamman guilty on all twelve of the charges that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had brought against him.
He received sentences of three years and two years for counts four and five of the charge respectively, and seven years for each of the ten offenses. All of these culminate into a total of seventy-five (75) years.
Judge James Omotosho also ruled that the sentences should be served consecutively without the possibility of a fine, with the exception of count four, which permits a N10 million fine.
In addition, the court ordered the seizure of four desirable houses in Abuja that were linked to the defendant as well as any foreign currency that was found on him.
Former Minister Saleh Mamman
Born on January 2, 1958, Mamman Kwagyang Saleh was a Nigerian government official who held the position of Minister of Power from August 2019 until September 2021. On August 21, 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari swore him in following his nomination and Senate confirmation. However, President Buhari fired Mamman on September 1, 2021, and Abubakar Aliyu, the Minister of State for Works and Housing, took his position.
The Taraba-born former minister graduated from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1988 with a higher national diploma in electrical electronics.
