EFCC Arrests Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman After 75-Year Corruption Sentence

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman in Kaduna after he went into hiding following his conviction for laundering 33.8 billion naira linked to hydroelectric projects. Mamman was sentenced in absentia to a total of 75 years in prison, while two suspects accused of harbouring him have also been arrested

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, days after a court sentenced him in absentia to a combined 75 years in prison over corruption and money laundering offences involving billions of naira earmarked for major government-backed energy projects.
The arrest was announced on Tuesday by the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, who disclosed that Mamman had been apprehended in the northern city of Kaduna after weeks on the run.
According to Olukoyede, the former minister had been in hiding since his conviction on May 7 and was arrested during a late-night operation carried out by EFCC operatives. He stated that Mamman is now in the custody of the commission and will face the legal consequences of the court’s ruling.
The EFCC chairman alleged that the former minister had received assistance while evading arrest, claiming that certain individuals helped conceal his whereabouts following the conviction. As part of the operation that led to his capture, authorities also arrested two additional suspects accused of harbouring and protecting him while he remained a fugitive.
Investigators are now examining the property where Mamman was discovered, with authorities seeking to determine whether it was used to facilitate his concealment and whether any additional individuals may have been involved in helping him avoid arrest. The investigation is expected to focus on ownership records, financial transactions and any possible links to the corruption case for which he was convicted.
Mamman’s arrest comes shortly after a Nigerian court found him guilty on all 12 counts of corruption and money laundering brought against him by prosecutors. The charges stemmed from the alleged diversion and laundering of approximately 33.8 billion naira, equivalent to about $24.65 million, linked to funds allocated for two government-supported hydroelectric power projects.
The court ruled that the former minister had abused his position by participating in financial transactions designed to conceal and divert public funds intended for critical infrastructure development in Nigeria’s power sector. Prosecutors argued that the offences undermined efforts to improve electricity generation and distribution in a country where access to reliable power remains a major challenge.
Following the conviction, the court imposed separate prison terms for each count. Mamman received seven-year sentences on 10 counts, while the remaining two counts attracted prison terms of three years and two years respectively. The judge ordered that the sentences run consecutively rather than concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of 75 years.
The case is regarded as one of the most significant corruption prosecutions involving a former cabinet minister in recent years and forms part of wider efforts by Nigerian authorities to strengthen accountability and combat the misuse of public funds. Anti-corruption agencies have increasingly pursued high-profile cases involving former government officials, arguing that stronger enforcement is necessary to deter corruption and improve public confidence in governance.
Mamman served as Nigeria’s Minister of Power under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari and was responsible for overseeing policies and projects aimed at expanding electricity generation and improving the country’s energy infrastructure. The allegations against him centred on funds intended for hydroelectric projects that were expected to contribute to national power supply and economic development.
With his arrest now confirmed, authorities are expected to begin the process of enforcing the court’s sentence while continuing investigations into individuals suspected of assisting him during his period in hiding. The EFCC has indicated that efforts to identify and prosecute anyone involved in shielding convicted persons from law enforcement will continue as part of its broader anti-corruption campaign.