Court finds former minister Mamman Saleh guilty of ₦33.7 billion fraud on energy projects, orders arrest for sentencing – THIS FACILITY

By Victor Osula, Abuja

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Energy Minister, Mamman Saleh, on 12 counts of fraud and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a case bordering on the alleged diversion of funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydropower projects.

Justice James Omotosho, delivering the ruling on Thursday, said the EFCC successfully proved that the former minister conspired with officials of the Federal Ministry of Energy and used Bureau de Change operators and proxy companies to divert and launder public funds totaling ₦33.7 billion.

The court found that the prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt that funds released by the Federal Government for the execution of the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects had been systematically diverted, misused and converted into personal assets by the accused and his associates.

According to the court, the EFCC proved that at least P22 billion was directly traceable to a fraudulent diversion involving the former minister and his friends, adding that the defense failed to provide credible evidence to counter the prosecution’s case.

“The prosecution has established that at least ₦22 billion was diverted by the accused and his friends. The accused has not offered any credible evidence to refute the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho said.

The EFCC prosecuted the former minister for allegedly abusing his office by approving and facilitating illegal cash transactions, including a cash payment of $655,700 (about ₦200 million) for landed properties in Abuja, conducted outside the formal banking system.

He was also charged with breach of trust and conspiracy, along with ministerial officials and intermediaries, in diverting funds intended for national electricity infrastructure projects into private accounts and asset acquisitions within and outside Nigeria.

The anti-corruption agency told the court that investigations revealed a pattern of money laundering through Bureau de Change operators, who converted large sums of public funds into foreign currency and delivered them to the accused and his network of associates.

The EFCC further said proceeds from the fraudulent transactions were used to acquire properties and other assets while power projects suffered delays and underfunding.

Justice Omotosho, in his ruling, condemned the behavior of the former minister, saying that instead of using his office to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply, he exploited the system for personal enrichment.

“Rather than creating a legacy to address electricity epilepsy in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens. Nigerians have remained in darkness to this day,” the judge said.

The Court further observed that the absence of the accused during the pronouncement of the sentence was intentional and intended to frustrate the proceedings. Consequently, Justice Omotosho ordered the issuance of an arrest warrant for Mamman Saleh prior to his sentencing.

The former minister, who was not in court when the sentence was delivered, will be presented for sentencing set for May 13, 2026.

The defendant’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that his client’s whereabouts were unknown since the sentence notification was issued, adding that he was reportedly unwell. The request to postpone the sentence was rejected.

The EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to proceed with the sentencing, arguing that the absence of the accused was unjustified despite indications that he had been active in public and political engagements.

The EFCC called 17 witnesses and submitted 43 documents during the trial, which the court relied on in making its decision.

The case was adjourned to May 13, 2026 for sentencing and further orders.

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