Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman, days after he was sentenced to 75 years in prison over corruption-related offences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that Mamman was apprehended in Kaduna State following weeks of surveillance and intelligence operations.
According to the agency, the former minister had gone into hiding after he was convicted earlier this month by a court in Abuja.
Mamman was found guilty on 12 charges linked to the diversion of funds allocated for two hydroelectric power projects. The court ruled that prosecutors had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
He was sentenced in absentia after failing to appear in court during the proceedings.
The EFCC described the arrest as part of efforts to ensure that convicted public officials are held accountable and made to serve their sentences.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the agency remained committed to tackling corruption at the highest levels.
“For us, getting the convict to serve his jail terms is extremely important,” he stated.
During the trial, the judge said evidence presented by prosecutors showed that Mamman and his associates diverted at least 22 billion naira meant for key electricity projects.
The court also heard that proxy companies and associates were allegedly used to siphon public funds from the projects.
The former minister received multiple prison terms across the charges, which are to run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years.
Mamman is also facing a separate corruption case involving alleged fraud amounting to 31 billion naira. A warrant had earlier been issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in court in that matter as well.
He served as Nigeria’s power minister between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The conviction has renewed public criticism over Nigeria’s long-standing electricity crisis, as many citizens continue to experience frequent power outages despite the country’s large energy resources.
