A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering.
The charges were filed against the former minister by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho held that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, convicting Mamman on all counts in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/273/2024.
The court found the former minister guilty of illegally diverting public funds amounting to about N33.8 billion during his time in office under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice Omotosho also ruled that Mamman made a cash payment of 655,700 US dollars, equivalent to about N200 million, for a property in Abuja without using a financial institution, in violation of financial regulations.
The court further held that the former minister breached public trust in the handling of funds released for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects.
According to the judgment, large portions of the funds were allegedly diverted through Bureau de Change operators who converted the money into foreign currencies before handing it over to the defendant.
“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant,” the judge stated.
“The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” he added.
The conviction marks a major development in the anti-corruption campaign involving former public office holders accused of mismanaging government funds.
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