Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court on Wednesday sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment in absentia over a N33.8bn money laundering and fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court convicted Mamman on all 12 counts filed against him by the anti-graft agency, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Omotosho ordered that the prison terms would run consecutively and not concurrently, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.
In Count One of the charges, the anti-graft agency stated “That you, SALEH MAMMAN (Male), sometime in 2019… whilst you were the Minister of Power, conspired with other officials of your ministry and some private companies to indirectly convert the total sum of N33,804,830,503.73 (Thirty-Three Billion, Eight Hundred and Four Million, Eight Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Three Naira, and Seventy-Three Kobo).”
The EFCC said the crime constituted a criminal breach of trust, “contrary to Sections 18(a), 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 {as Amended), and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The agency further alleged that part of the funds was routed through Bureau De Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies and delivered same to Mamman and his associates.
In Count Two, the EFCC said the former minister, in December 2019, conspired with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of US$665,700.00 (Six Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand and Seven Hundred United States Dollars) to MOHIBA INVESTMENT LTD, equivalent to about N200m at the time, for a property in Abuja without passing through a financial institution, contrary to Sections 1 and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended), and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.
The judge sentenced the former minister to seven years imprisonment each on counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine. He also sentenced him to three years imprisonment on Count Four with an option of N10m fine and two years’ imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.
The judge held that Mamman’s absence in court during judgment and sentencing proceedings was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the administration of justice.
Relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the court agreed with EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), that sentencing could validly proceed despite the defendant’s absence.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered all security agencies, including the Interpol, to arrest Mamman wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.
The court ruled that the jail term would commence from the date of his arrest.
The judge also ordered the final forfeiture of recovered funds, foreign currencies and properties linked to the convict, including properties traced to him in Abuja.
He further directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the N22bn the prosecution established was diverted from funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was initially arraigned in July 2024 on allegations bordering on conspiracy and money laundering involving N33.8bn, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
Justice Omotosho had on May 7 convicted the former minister in absentia after holding that the EFCC established his culpability beyond reasonable doubt and subsequently issued a warrant for his arrest.
punch.ng
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