Quick Read
- Saleh Mamman was sentenced to 75 years in prison in absentia.
- The corruption involved the diversion of ₦22bn from major hydropower projects.
- He was captured in a pre-dawn raid in Kaduna after weeks of surveillance.
The Capture of a Fugitive Minister
In a significant development for Nigeria’s anti-corruption agenda, former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman was apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a pre-dawn raid in Kaduna State. The arrest, which occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., marks the end of a high-stakes manhunt initiated after the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Mamman to 75 years in prison in absentia on May 13, 2026.
Mamman, who served as the Minister of Power from 2019 to 2021 under the administration of Muhammadu Buhari, was found guilty on 12 counts of money laundering and fraud. The judicial proceedings, which culminated in a conviction after more than a year of prosecution, established that the former minister orchestrated the diversion of at least ₦22 billion intended for the development of critical hydropower projects, specifically the Mambilla and Zungeru installations.
The Mechanics of the Fraud
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence detailing how public funds earmarked for electricity infrastructure were siphoned through a network of proxy companies and associates. The judge presiding over the case characterized the diversion as a “gross abuse of public trust,” noting that the systematic theft of these funds directly contributed to the failure of projects intended to bolster Nigeria’s struggling energy sector. Beyond the ₦22 billion conviction, Mamman remains the subject of a separate ongoing trial in Abuja involving allegations of fraud amounting to ₦31 billion.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede emphasized that the operation in Kaduna was the result of weeks of intensive intelligence gathering and surveillance. In addition to the former minister, two individuals accused of harboring the fugitive were also taken into custody, with the agency signaling that investigations will expand to include all parties who facilitated Mamman’s evasion of justice.
Institutional Stakes and Energy Crisis
The arrest of Saleh Mamman carries profound implications for Nigeria’s governance landscape. The country currently faces a persistent energy crisis, characterized by frequent blackouts and a heavy reliance on expensive, inefficient fuel generators. The diversion of billions of naira from the Mambilla and Zungeru projects is widely viewed as a primary catalyst for the current state of national infrastructure. The public outcry following the conviction reflects a broader demand for accountability within the high echelons of government.
The EFCC has stated that it is now moving to identify and seize additional assets linked to the former minister, aiming to recover as much of the misappropriated funds as possible. The commission has also pledged to enhance its surveillance protocols for high-profile suspects to prevent future instances of flight during legal proceedings.
The apprehension of Saleh Mamman serves as a critical test for the Nigerian judiciary and law enforcement agencies. By successfully tracking down a high-ranking official who attempted to evade a 75-year sentence, the EFCC is attempting to signal a shift toward greater institutional accountability. However, the recurring nature of such corruption scandals—as evidenced by Mamman’s additional pending charges—suggests that structural vulnerabilities in the management of public energy funds remain deep-seated, necessitating sustained oversight beyond individual criminal prosecutions.