Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has found former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, guilty on a 12-count charge of fraud and money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho ruled that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt.
Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari, was convicted over the unlawful diversion of public funds amounting to about ₦33.8 billion.
The court also held that the former minister made a cash payment of $655,700, estimated at about ₦200 million, for a property in Abuja without using any financial institution.
He was further convicted for criminal breach of trust linked to funds released by the Federal Government for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power projects.
According to the court, a large portion of the money was moved through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the funds into foreign currencies before handing them over to the defendant.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” Justice Omotosho held.
The judge also criticised the former minister over his handling of Nigeria’s power sector while in office.
“Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“Little wonder Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” the judge added.
Mamman was not present in court when the judgment was delivered.
Following his absence, the court postponed sentencing and approved the EFCC’s request for a warrant of arrest against him.
Counsel to the defendant, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that Mamman’s whereabouts had been unknown since last Tuesday when notice of the judgment date was issued.
Ahmed explained that the defendant’s personal assistant later informed him that Mamman was ill.
Attempts by the defence lawyer to persuade the court to delay the judgment did not succeed.
Justice Omotosho referred to media reports which suggested that the defendant had recently been active politically and had obtained a governorship nomination form to contest the Taraba State governorship election.
Counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to proceed with the matter, arguing that there was no reasonable explanation for the defendant’s absence.
“My Lord should go ahead. If the judgment is in his favour, we know what to do. If it is against him, we also know what to do,” Oyedepo said.