The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed how it arrested Saleh Mamman, a former minister of power, weeks after he went missing following his conviction for fraud.
Ola Olukoyede, EFCC chairman, disclosed that Mamman was arrested in Rigasa, Kaduna State, at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Mamman was on May 7 convicted on all 12 counts brought against him by the anti-graft agency and sentenced in absentia to 75 years imprisonment.
He was handed seven-year jail terms on 10 counts, while counts four and five attracted prison sentences of three years and two years respectively.
Justice James Omotosho, who presided over the case, ruled that the sentences should run consecutively without the option of a fine, except for count four, which carries an option of a N10 million fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from the former minister, as well as four luxury properties in Abuja linked to him.
Justice Omotosho further directed security agencies to collaborate with Interpol to ensure Mamman’s arrest, adding that his prison term would commence from the date of his arrest.
Speaking on Tuesday, Olukoyede said the former minister was apprehended during an early morning operation in Kaduna State.
“I’m happy to announce to Nigerians that at about 3:30 a.m. this morning, we arrested Mr Saleh Mamman somewhere in Rigasa, Kaduna State,” Olukoyede told journalists at the EFCC headquarters.
“This is a test of the commitment of the federal government of Nigeria to the fight against corruption and to assure Nigerians that anyone who has pilfered national resources will not go unpunished.
“The eagle eye of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will always catch up with you wherever you are hiding.”
The EFCC boss confirmed that Mamman is currently in the commission’s custody and disclosed that two other persons found with him were also arrested.
“We discovered that he was actually being protected all this while,” he said.
“At the location where we effected the arrest, we apprehended two other Nigerians who were with him inside the property. The owners of the property are also under investigation because it is a crime to harbour or protect a convict.”
