EFCC Arrests Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman After Weeks in Hiding

Our Reporter 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, who had reportedly gone into hiding following his conviction on corruption charges.

According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, Mamman was apprehended in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State in the early hours of May 19, 2026, after what the Commission described as weeks of intensive surveillance and intelligence operations.

Speaking on the development, EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, said the former minister disappeared after he was convicted by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Olukoyede disclosed that Justice James Omotosho had on May 7 found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts brought against him, which bordered on the alleged diversion of funds earmarked for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.

According to the EFCC chairman, the court convicted Mamman in absentia after ruling that the prosecution had successfully established its case beyond reasonable doubt.

“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,” Olukoyede stated.

The court held that Mamman and his associates diverted no less than N22 billion meant for critical national power projects. 

Justice Omotosho reportedly ruled that the defence failed to provide credible evidence capable of weakening the prosecution’s claims.

In delivering judgment, the court condemned the diversion of public funds intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric projects, describing the act as a severe breach of public trust. 

The judge also noted that proxy companies and associates were allegedly used to siphon funds intended for key national infrastructure projects.

Mamman served as Minister of Power from 2019 to 2021 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and oversaw major projects within Nigeria’s power sector, including the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric initiatives.

Following his conviction, the court had directed that he be produced before it on May 13 for sentencing. However, his absence prompted the court to proceed with sentencing in absentia.

Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on ten counts without an option of fine, while he received an additional three-year sentence on one count with an option of a N10 million fine and a further two-year jail term on another count. 

The court ordered that the terms run consecutively, amounting to a cumulative 75-year prison sentence.

In addition to the concluded case, Mamman is also facing a separate corruption trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over allegations involving N31 billion fraud.

The EFCC further disclosed that on May 11, Justice Maryanne Anenih issued a bench warrant against the former minister after he failed to appear in court in a separate matter involving him and seven others.

The latest development marks another high-profile anti-corruption action by the EFCC as authorities continue efforts to enforce court judgments and prosecute corruption-related offences.