The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years’ imprisonment in absentia over offences linked to the laundering of N33.8 billion.
Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho found Mamman guilty on all 12 counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court ordered that the prison terms run consecutively rather than concurrently.
Justice Omotosho ruled that Mamman’s absence from court on Wednesday and during the previous adjourned sitting amounted to a deliberate attempt to frustrate the course of justice.
The judge agreed with the argument of EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, who maintained that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) empowers the court to proceed with sentencing even in the absence of a defendant.
According to the court, Mamman could not claim that his right to fair hearing had been violated.
Justice Omotosho subsequently sentenced the former minister to seven years’ imprisonment on Counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 without the option of a fine.
He was also sentenced to three years’ imprisonment on Count 4, with an option of a N10 million fine, and two years’ imprisonment on Count 5 without an option of fine.
The judge directed that all sentences should run consecutively and take effect from the date of Mamman’s eventual arrest.
He further ordered security agencies within and outside Nigeria, including INTERPOL, to arrest the former minister wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.
The court also granted an application by the prosecution for the final forfeiture of two Abuja properties linked to Mamman, alongside assorted foreign currency funds recovered during investigations.
The application, which was not opposed by Mamman’s counsel, Mohammed Ahmed, was approved by the court.
Justice Omotosho additionally ordered Mamman to refund the outstanding balance between the recovered assets and the N22 billion the prosecution successfully traced during trial proceedings.
The EFCC had alleged that the funds were diverted from the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.
The former minister was earlier convicted in absentia on May 7 on charges bordering on money laundering and diversion of public funds.
