Court find Nigeria former minister of power guilty of fraud days afta e pick form to run for govnorship election

Justice James Omotosho of di Federal High Court for Abuja don convict one former Minister of Power Sale Mamman as e find am guilty of a 12-count charge wey border on fraud and money laundering wey di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) file against am.

Justice Omotosho wey deliver di judgement on Thursday, 7 May, say di anti-graft agency successfully establish say di former minister dey guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Di court find Oga Mamman wey bin serve under former President Muhammadu Buhari guilty of:

Di judgement dey come few days afta Oga Mamman pick form to contest for govnorship for Taraba State during di 2027 general elections under di All Progressives Congress party.

Wetin happun for court

For Thursday sitting, di court note say Oga Mamman siphon most of di money through Bureau de Change operators (BDCs) wey change di money to foreign currencies for am.

"Di evidence of di prosecution plenty as against di scanty and almost absent defence of di defendant," di judge hold.

"Di defendant no offer any credible evidence to deny di prosecution case.

"Instead of make e create legacy to tackle di epileptic power supply for di kontri, di defendant bin dey live large at di expense of ordinary citizens.

"Little wonder Nigerians remain for darkness till today," Justice Omotosho tok.

Di judge postpone im sentence to 13 May, 2026 becos Oga Mamman bin dey absent for court and di court grant EFCC warrant of arrest so dat e no go escape from di kontri.

One lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, wey announce im appearance for di defendant, tell di court say na since last week Tuesday, wen notice of di judgment date dey issued, im last sabi Mamman whereabouts.

E say di defendant personal assistant later inform am say Mamman no well.

Di defence counsel efforts to persuade di court to postpone di judgment bin dey unsuccessful.

Authorities arrest Mamman for 2021, about four months afta former President Buhari remove am from office.

During di trial, EFCC present 17 witnesses and tender 43 exhibits bifor dem close dia case.

Di commission bin allege say, among oda tins, Mamman conspire wit ministry officials to divert about ₦22 billion for Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power projects.

According to di anti-corruption police, investigations show say e use di money wey e divert to acquire high-value assets within and outside Nigeria.

Di court fix Wednesday 13 May for im sentencing.

Who be Sale Mamman?

Mamman Kwagyang Saleh take oath as Nigeria Minister of Power on 21 August 2019.

Former President Muhammadu Buhari swear in Saleh months afta e win second term election to lead di West African nation.

Dem born Mamman Saleh on 2, January 1958, according to multiple sources.

Saleh hail from Taraba State, northeast Nigeria.

For 1988, e bag Higher National Diploma in Electrical Electronics from Kaduna Polytechnic. E also hold MBA in business administration from Bayero University Kano, wia e graduate for 2015.

E serve as Minister of Power from August 21, 2019, to September 1, 2021, and Buhari remove am from office inside one cabinet reshuffle.