Nigeria Arrests Former Minister Saleh Mamman After 75-Year Sentence

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman on Tuesday, one week after he received a 75-year prison sentence for corruption.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said officers detained Mamman in the northern state of Kaduna following “weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.”

The agency stated that the former minister had gone into hiding after a court in Abuja convicted him earlier this month.

A court found Mamman guilty on 12 counts related to the diversion of funds intended for two hydroelectric power projects.

The judge ruled that prosecutors had proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.

Mamman was sentenced in absentia after he failed to appear in court.

His arrest represents a rare instance of follow-through in the fight against high-level corruption, as convictions of top officials remain uncommon in Nigeria.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said authorities are determined to ensure the former minister serves his sentence.

“For us, getting the convict to serve his jail terms is extremely important in view of the seriousness with which we are tackling corrupt practices,” Olukoyede said.

The judge overseeing the case stated during trial that the EFCC had demonstrated Mamman and his associates diverted at least 22 billion naira ($14 million; £10 million) earmarked for critical electricity projects.

The judge described the diversion of public funds as a gross abuse of public trust, noting that proxy companies and associates were used to siphon money from the projects.

The court sentenced Mamman to multiple prison terms across the charges, to run consecutively, totaling 75 years.

Mamman also faces a separate corruption trial in Abuja over allegations of fraud involving 31 billion naira. Earlier this month, another judge issued an arrest warrant after he failed to appear in court for that case.

Mamman served as Nigeria’s power minister from 2019 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

His conviction has sparked outrage over Nigeria’s persistent electricity problems, particularly as he had pledged to improve power supply while in office.

Despite being one of Africa’s largest energy producers, Nigeria continues to experience frequent blackouts and power cuts affecting homes and businesses.

Many Nigerians rely on fuel generators for electricity, but rising fuel costs have made this increasingly difficult.

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