The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, after he went into hiding following his conviction by a court in Abuja.

The arrest was carried out in the early hours of Tuesday in Abuja. The commission said the operation followed efforts to enforce a court judgment that had already sentenced him for corruption-related offences involving major power projects.

The chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, said Mamman was tracked and arrested after intelligence-led efforts. He said the agency acted to ensure the sentence is served.

“We are committed to ensuring he serves his sentence,” Olukoyede said.

On 7 May, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja found Mamman guilty on 12 counts linked to diversion of funds meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla power projects.

The court said the prosecution proved its case and found that funds running into billions of naira were mismanaged through different channels. The judge said the defence failed to counter the evidence presented.

Mamman, who served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021, was later sentenced to jail terms on multiple counts. The sentences were ordered to run one after the other, which increased the total prison term to 75 years.

The court had earlier ordered his arrest for sentencing, but he did not appear in court on the day of judgment. He was later sentenced in his absence.

In a separate matter, another court in Abuja has also ordered his arrest over a different corruption case involving alleged financial misconduct.

Ademide Adebayo