Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
A Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a multi-billion naira money laundering case.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding Mamman guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a statement signed by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the former minister was prosecuted for allegedly laundering more than thirty-three point eight billion naira linked to funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Mamman was absent during the sentencing, and the court heard that no satisfactory explanation was provided by his legal team regarding his whereabouts.
Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to proceed with sentencing in line with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, and also requested the forfeiture of properties and cash linked to the convict.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each on ten counts without the option of fine, three years on another count with an option of a ten million naira fine, and two years on a separate count without an option of fine.
The court ruled that the sentences will run consecutively from the date of his arrest.
Justice Omotosho also ordered national and international security agencies to arrest and hand over Mamman to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The court further ordered the forfeiture to the Federal Government of two luxury properties in Abuja, including apartments located in Kado Estate and another property in Wuse.
Several foreign currencies recovered from the former minister’s residence, including United States dollars, euros, pounds sterling, South African rand, Saudi riyals, and Indian rupees, were also forfeited to the government.
In addition, the court directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance of funds linked to the fraud for which he was convicted.