Former Nigerian Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman has been sentenced to 75 years in prison after being found guilty of laundering 33.8 billion naira ($24.7 million) in a major corruption case that has shocked Nigeria.
A high court in Abuja handed down the sentence after convicting Mamman on 12 counts linked to the diversion of public funds meant for government-backed power projects. Prosecutors said he used private companies to channel millions of dollars tied to electricity infrastructure contracts into illicit transactions.
The ruling was delivered in absentia after Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission disclosed that the former minister had gone missing and was currently “without trace.” Authorities had earlier secured an arrest warrant for him after he reportedly disappeared following his conviction.
Mamman served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2021, during a period when the administration pledged to crack down on corruption and improve Nigeria’s struggling power sector. He was later removed from office during a cabinet reshuffle.
In addition to the prison term, the court ordered him to refund 22 billion naira ($16 million) to the Nigerian government.
The conviction has sparked renewed frustration among Nigerians, many of whom continue to endure persistent blackouts despite repeated promises of reforms in the power sector. Critics say the case highlights how corruption has contributed to the country’s long-running electricity crisis, forcing millions of households and businesses to rely on costly fuel generators.
The case is part of a wider anti-corruption crackdown targeting former public officials, as authorities intensify efforts to recover stolen state funds and restore public trust.
