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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in Kaduna State after weeks on the run following his conviction over the alleged diversion of N22 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Mamman was arrested on Tuesday at his hideout in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State after weeks of intensive surveillance and intelligence operations by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
Speaking with journalists after the arrest, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the former minister allegedly absconded after the Federal High Court in Abuja convicted him on multiple corruption charges linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
“On May 7, 2026, Justice James Omotosho found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts bordering on diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. The court convicted him in absentia after agreeing with the Commission that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt,” he said.
Olukoyede added that the EFCC was determined to ensure that the former minister serves his jail term.
“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.
This resolution made us deploy intelligence assets to track and arrest the convict. We will process his transfer to the Correctional Centre accordingly,” he stated.
In his judgment, Justice James Omotosho held that the EFCC successfully established that Mamman and his associates diverted not less than N22 billion meant for the execution of critical power projects.
The court further held that the defence failed to present credible evidence capable of discrediting the prosecution’s case.
The judge condemned the diversion of public funds earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects, describing the act as a gross abuse of public trust.
He also noted that the convict deployed proxy companies and associates to siphon and benefit from funds meant for critical national infrastructure.
Mamman, who served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, supervised Nigeria’s power sector and major hydroelectric projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects.
Following his conviction, the court ordered that he be arrested and produced before it on May 13, 2026, for sentencing.
However, the convict failed to appear in court on the scheduled date, prompting the court to proceed with sentencing in his absence.
The court subsequently sentenced him to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine.
He was also handed a three-year jail term on Count 4 with an option of N10 million fine and two years imprisonment on Count 5 without an option of fine.
Justice Omotosho ordered that the sentences run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.
Aside from the conviction, the former minister is also standing trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, over an alleged N31 billion fraud case.
On May 11, 2026, Justice Maryanne Anenih issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for proceedings in the matter involving him and seven other defendants.
