Former Nigerian power minister Saleh Mamman has been sentenced to 75 years in prison after being found guilty of laundering billions of naira in public funds. A high court in Abuja convicted Mamman on multiple corruption-related charges linked to the diversion of funds meant for government power projects. According to the court, the former minister was involved in laundering about 33.8 billion naira through private companies connected to power plant contracts. He was found guilty on 12 counts related to fraud and money laundering.
Authorities said Mamman was sentenced in absentia after reportedly disappearing shortly before the verdict.
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stated that the former minister could not be located and had gone “out of circulation.”The court had earlier issued a warrant for his arrest. Mamman served as power minister under former president Muhammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2021 before he was removed during a cabinet reshuffle.Despite his legal troubles, the former minister had recently declared interest in contesting for governor of Taraba State in the 2027 elections under the ruling APC party.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered him to repay 22 billion naira linked to the fraud case.
The conviction has sparked renewed conversations about corruption and Nigeria’s ongoing electricity crisis.
Many Nigerians continue to face constant blackouts and rising energy costs despite years of promises to improve power supply.The case is one of the most significant anti-corruption rulings in recent years and forms part of a broader crackdown on former public officials accused of misusing government funds.
