Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment over a N33.8 billion money laundering case.
Mamman, who was absent during Wednesday’s proceedings, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering involving N33,804,830,503.73 linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Justice Omotosho had earlier convicted the former minister on all 12 counts before adjourning the matter for sentencing.
One of the charges stated that Mamman, while serving as Minister of Power in 2019, conspired with ministry officials and private companies to divert funds meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant Projects.
Another charge accused him of conspiring with one Samson Bitrus to make a cash payment of 665,700 US dollars to Mohiba Investment Limited without passing through a financial institution, contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, informed the court that the convict was again absent and that no satisfactory explanation had been provided by his legal team.
Oyedepo urged the court to proceed with sentencing in absentia, relying on Sections 266 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
He also requested the forfeiture of properties and cash linked to the convict, including two four-bedroom detached apartments at Ahmed Joda Crescent, Kado Estate, Abuja, and another property located at Lingo Street, Wuse, Abuja.
The prosecution further sought the forfeiture of various foreign currencies recovered from Mamman’s residence, including dollars, euros, pounds sterling, South African rand, Indian rupees and Saudi riyals.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho sentenced Mamman to seven years imprisonment each on counts one, two, three, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven and twelve without an option of fine.
The court also sentenced him to three years imprisonment on count four with an option of N10 million fine and two years imprisonment on count five without an option of fine.
The sentences are to run consecutively from the date of his arrest.
The judge further ordered national and international security agencies to arrest and hand over the convict to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Omotosho also granted the prosecution’s request for the forfeiture of the identified properties and recovered foreign currencies to the Federal Government.
In addition, the court directed Mamman to refund the outstanding balance from the N22 billion linked to the offence for which he was convicted.