A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman on a 12-count money-laundering charge, in which he is accused of diverting about N33.8 billion in public funds.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment on Thursday, held that the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), proved its case against Mamman beyond a reasonable doubt, as required by law.
The judge came down hard on Mamman for living large while he was Minister, at the expense of Nigerians, noting that his actions contributed to the country’s inability to overcome its power supply challenge.
Justice Omotosho suspended the sentencing portion of the judgment until May 12 because, contrary to standard practice, the ex-minister stayed away from Thursday’s court session.
His lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that he had had no access to his client since Tuesday, when he received the notice of the judgment.
Ahmed said that one of the convict’s associates informed him that the former minister was sick, which was why he was absent from court.
Prosecution lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) faulted Ahmed’s claim, noting that the defence lawyer failed to provide evidence to support his claim that the convict was ill.
Oyedepo then prayed the court to issue a bench warrant for the ex-minister’s arrest.
In issuing the arrest warrant, Justice Omotosho ordered the state to search for the convict, arrest him and produce him in court on May 12 for sentencing, having been convicted of the offences for which he was charged by the anti-graft agency.
Mamman was arrested in 2021, about four months after he was removed from office by ex-President Buhari.
The EFCC produced 17 witnesses who testified before the court and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case.
The agency, among other things, alleged that he conspired with staff members of the ministry to divert about ₦22bn intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
The anti-graft agency said its investigations revealed that the suspects used the funds to acquire choice assets, both within and outside the country.