Federal High Court orders nationwide manhunt and Interpol involvement after former minister absconds during sentencing in massive hydroelectric project fraud case.
By Abigail Ishaku – ABUJA — May 13, 2026
The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a N33.8 billion money laundering and fraud scandal linked to major national power infrastructure projects.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the landmark judgment on Wednesday, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after ruling that prosecutors established their case beyond reasonable doubt.
The ruling marks one of the most severe corruption-related sentences imposed on a former Nigerian cabinet minister in recent years and has intensified scrutiny over alleged large-scale diversion of public funds within Nigeria’s power sector.
Court Orders Global Manhunt for Former Minister
In a dramatic escalation of the case, the court ordered all Nigerian security agencies and Interpol to immediately arrest Mamman wherever he is found and hand him over to correctional authorities to begin serving his sentence.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the prison terms would run consecutively rather than concurrently, resulting in a cumulative sentence of 75 years.
The judge also declared that the former minister deliberately absconded from court proceedings in an attempt to obstruct justice.
“The defendant’s absence was a calculated effort to frustrate the administration of justice,” the court held.
Breakdown of the 75-Year Sentence
The court sentenced Mamman to:
- Seven years imprisonment each on 10 separate counts
- Three years imprisonment on one count with an option of N10 million fine
- Two years imprisonment on another count without an option of fine
The sentence is to commence from the date of his arrest.
The ruling relied heavily on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which permits proceedings and sentencing under certain conditions despite a defendant’s absence.
EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), successfully argued that the defendant’s continued evasion should not obstruct the judicial process.
Fraud Linked to Mambilla, Zungeru Power Projects
Investigations presented before the court linked the diverted funds to strategic national electricity projects, particularly the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power schemes.
The projects have long been central to Nigeria’s efforts to address chronic electricity shortages and expand national power generation capacity.
According to prosecutors, over N22 billion intended for the projects was fraudulently diverted through complex financial transactions and laundering schemes.
The court subsequently ordered Mamman to refund outstanding balances connected to the diverted funds.
Massive Asset Forfeiture Ordered
Justice Omotosho also ordered the final forfeiture of multiple assets traced to the former minister, including:
- Cash recoveries
- Foreign currencies
- Real estate assets in Abuja
- Other properties linked to the fraud investigation
The forfeiture orders significantly expand EFCC’s ongoing asset recovery campaign involving politically exposed persons.
Investigators believe additional assets connected to the scheme may still be under tracing both locally and internationally.
Absconding Raises Questions About Enforcement Gaps
Mamman’s disappearance before sentencing has triggered fresh concerns over the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption enforcement mechanisms and the ability of politically exposed defendants to evade prosecution.
The former minister had already been declared wanted following his earlier conviction in absentia on May 7, when Justice Omotosho first issued a warrant for his arrest.
Yet despite active proceedings in multiple courts, authorities failed to secure his presence before final sentencing.
Legal analysts say the development exposes continuing weaknesses in inter-agency coordination, defendant monitoring, and enforcement compliance during high-profile corruption trials.
Wider Political and Institutional Implications
Mamman served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, whose administration publicly positioned anti-corruption efforts as a central policy agenda.
The conviction may now renew debate over corruption allegations involving former public officials and the management of large-scale infrastructure financing during previous administrations.
The case also places renewed focus on Nigeria’s troubled power sector, where billions of naira have been invested over decades with limited improvements in electricity generation and transmission nationwide.
Power Sector Still Burdened by Historic Failures
The Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric projects were originally promoted as transformational initiatives capable of significantly improving Nigeria’s electricity supply.
However, repeated delays, funding controversies, contractual disputes, and corruption allegations have slowed progress on several major energy projects across the country.
Energy experts argue that persistent financial leakages and governance failures within the sector continue to undermine Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic competitiveness.
The 75-year prison sentence handed to former Power Minister Saleh Mamman represents one of Nigeria’s most consequential anti-corruption judgments in recent years.
Yet beyond the courtroom victory for the EFCC, the case has also exposed deeper institutional vulnerabilities surrounding public infrastructure management, enforcement accountability, and the difficulty of securing justice against politically exposed figures.
As security agencies intensify efforts to locate the fugitive former minister, the case is expected to remain a defining test of Nigeria’s anti-corruption credibility and judicial enforcement capacity.
Leave a Reply