The judge rebuked the convict for living large as minister, at the expense of Nigerians, saying that his action was part of what kept Nigerians in darkness.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has convicted a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, of fraud involving N33.8 billion.
The judge rebuked the convict for living large as minister, at the expense of Nigerians, saying that his action was part of what kept Nigerians in darkness.
He handed down the verdict on Thursday in the absence of Mr Mamman, who was granted bail and attended his trial from home.
Following a request by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), the court issued a warrant for the arrest of the convict.
Earlier, the convict’s lawyer, Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that he had no access to his client since Tuesday, when he received the notice of the judgement.
He said one of the associates of the convict informed him that the former minister was unable to attend Thursday’s proceedings because he was sick.
Mr Oyedepo urged the court to issue a warrant for the former minister’s arrest, as the defence failed to provide credible evidence, like a medical report, to back his claim of ill health.
Granting the request, the judge ordered that the state should look for the convict, arrest him and produce him in court for sentencing, having been convicted of the offences brought against him by the anti-graft agency.
Mr Omotosho fixed 13 May for sentencing.
In the judgement, Mr Omotosho held that the EFCC proved the amended 12 counts beyond reasonable doubt.
He said, “The prosecution has established that, at least, N22 billion was siphoned by the defendant and his cronies,” the judge said. that “This is sufficient to sustain the charge.”
However, the judge held that the defence failed to rebut the prosecution’s evidence.
He explained that “the defence did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the evidence of the prosecution.”
Mr Omotosho condemned the diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects and noted that “the sheer greed of the defendant and his comrades in crime is nothing but a downright shameful thing.”
The judge said Mr Mamman occupied a critical office but chose to divert public funds instead of addressing Nigeria’s electricity crisis.
“The defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary Nigerians who had suffered from the consequence of his malfeasance,” the judge said.
He explained that the former minister used proxy companies and associates to conceal the transactions.
However, the diligent investigation of the prosecution was able to link him to the said funds
Mr Omotosho commended the EFCC for what he described as a detailed and coherent investigation.
Mr Mamman served as minister of power between 2019 and 2021, during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former minister recently declared interest in the 2027 Taraba State governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The EFCC arraigned him in July 2024 on 12 amended charges of money laundering and conspiracy.
The commission accused him of conspiring with ministry officials and private companies to divert N33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Mr Mamman pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits through Mr Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation.
The defence, led by Femi Atteh, did not call any witness.
He raised three issues in its final written address filed on 1 April.
The defence questioned whether the trial complied with fair hearing principles, whether the amended charges were valid, and whether the prosecution proved the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
In response, the EFCC argued in its final address filed on 14 April that the evidence of its witnesses and exhibits sufficiently established the case against the defendant.
