Justice Maryann Anineh of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has revoked the bail granted to former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman and issued a bench warrant for his arrest over his failure to appear in court for his ongoing trial.
The ruling was delivered on Monday, May 11, 2026, during proceedings in the alleged N31.07 billion fraud case instituted against the former minister and seven others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Mamman has reportedly remained out of circulation since May 7, 2026, when Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, convicted him on all 12 counts bordering on money laundering involving N33.8 billion.
The former minister is currently facing a separate nine-count charge before Justice Anineh, bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and intent to defraud amounting to N31,070,541,349.64.
At Monday’s hearing, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that Mamman was absent without explanation and noted that no justification had been provided for his failure to appear during the earlier proceedings before Justice Omotosho.
Responding, defence counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, argued that it was the responsibility of the prosecution to produce the defendant following the conviction and the earlier bench warrant issued against him.
However, Oyedepo countered that the prosecution was not responsible for informing the court of the defendant’s whereabouts. He urged the court to revoke Mamman’s bail, issue a fresh bench warrant for his arrest, and summon his surety at the next adjourned date.
“My lord, I do not hold the brief of the first defendant, so it is not my duty to inform the court of the whereabouts of his client. A defendant without reasonable justification absented from trial, there was a warrant issued by the Federal High Court which is yet to be executed as the defendant is still in hiding,” Oyedepo submitted.
The prosecution also requested that the court continue with the trial in Mamman’s absence in line with Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
In her ruling, Justice Anineh granted all the requests of the prosecution. She revoked Mamman’s bail, issued a bench warrant for his arrest, and ruled that the trial would continue in his absence in accordance with the provisions of the ACJA 2015.
The case was adjourned until May 14, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.