Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency says it has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman, just a week after he was sentenced to 75 years in prison over corruption-related offences.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that Mamman was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday in Kaduna State following weeks of surveillance and intelligence operations.
In a statement, the agency said the former minister had reportedly gone into hiding after he was convicted earlier this month by a court in Abuja.
Mamman was found guilty on 12 charges linked to the diversion of funds earmarked for two hydroelectric power projects. The court ruled that prosecutors had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him in absentia after he repeatedly failed to appear before the court.
His arrest is being seen as a significant step in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive, where convictions involving senior government officials remain relatively rare.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede said the commission was determined to ensure the former minister serves his jail term.
“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,” he stated.
During the trial, the judge said the EFCC had demonstrated that Mamman and his associates diverted at least 22 billion naira intended for critical electricity infrastructure projects. According to the court, proxy companies and close associates were used to siphon public funds from the projects.
The multiple prison terms handed to the former minister are to run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years.
Mamman is also facing another corruption trial in Abuja involving alleged fraud amounting to 31 billion naira. Earlier this month, a separate judge issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for that case as well.
He served as Nigeria’s power minister between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The conviction has reignited public frustration over Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis, especially as Mamman had pledged to improve power supply during his tenure.
Despite being one of Africa’s largest energy producers, Nigeria continues to struggle with frequent blackouts and unstable electricity supply, forcing many households and businesses to depend on fuel-powered generators amid rising fuel costs.