By Florencemary Nwabueze

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced the former minister of power, Mr. Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison for his role in a N33.8 billion money laundering scheme.

This was disclosed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission-EFCC on Wednesday 13th May 2026, after Justice James Omotosho, convicted the ex-minister in absentia on May 7, 2026 following an application for a bench warrant to ensure his production in court.

The former minister was prosecuted by the EFCC on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy and money laundering. The total sum involved in the fraud is N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, Seventy-Three Kobo).

When the matter was first called for judgment on May 7, the former minister was absent. His counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that efforts to reach him had failed and that an associate had claimed he was indisposed. However, no medical report was presented to the court.

EFCC Counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, urged the court to proceed under the discretionary powers granted by the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Justice Omotosho, visibly displeased with the defence’s explanation, proceeded with the conviction. He found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts.

At the time, the judge deferred the sentence to May 13, 2026, due to the former minister’s absence. To prevent the risk of flight, Justice Omotosho granted the prosecution’s prayer for a bench warrant for Mamman’s arrest.

On May 13, the EFCC announced that the former minister has eventually been sentenced to 75years imprisonment. Whereas he was handed seven years each on 10 counts of the charge, it jailed him three years and two years on counts four and five of rhe charge. Justice Omotosho held that the sentence should run consecutively without option of fine except on counts four which he allowed the payment of N10m fine.

Furthermore, the court ordered the forfeiture of various foreign currencies that were recovered from the convict, as well as four choice properties in Abuja that were traced to him.

However, the defendant who was absent when he was convicted by the court, was also not present when the sentence was passed.

The court had issued a warrant for his arrest.