The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in the Rigasa area of Kaduna after weeks of evading arrest following his conviction over the diversion of funds tied to major hydroelectric projects.
The anti-graft agency said the former minister was picked up in the early hours of May 19 after what it described as weeks of surveillance and intelligence operations by its operatives.
Speaking on the arrest, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said Mamman went into hiding after he was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on corruption charges linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla 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 reasonable doubt,” he said.
Olukoyede added: “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. It is this resolve that made us deploy intelligence to tracking and arresting the convict. We will process his transmission to the Correctional Centre accordingly.”
Justice James Omotosho had ruled that the EFCC proved that Mamman and his associates diverted over N22 billion meant for the execution of the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects. The court held that the defence failed to present evidence capable of weakening the prosecution’s case.
The judge described the diversion of funds meant for the projects as a grave betrayal of public trust, noting that proxy companies and associates were allegedly used to channel and benefit from the money earmarked for national infrastructure.
Mamman served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari and oversaw major hydroelectric projects during his time in office.
After his conviction, the court directed that he be produced before it on May 13, 2026, for sentencing. He failed to appear, leading the court to proceed with sentencing in his absence.
Justice Omotosho sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without the option of fine. He also received three years imprisonment on Count 4 with an option of N10 million fine, while Count 5 attracted two years imprisonment without an option of fine.
The court ordered that the sentences run consecutively, bringing the total prison term to 75 years.
Mamman is also facing another corruption case before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over an alleged N31 billion fraud.