Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman.
Saleh was convicted and sentenced to 75 years imprisonment over a N33.8bn fraud linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice James Omotosho convicted Mamman on a 12-count charge and ordered that the prison terms run consecutively.
EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed in a press briefing on that the former Minister was apprehended at about 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday when operatives traced him to the Rigasa area of Kaduna State.
Sources said Mamman was arrested alongside two individuals allegedly accused of shielding him from authorities, while the residence where the operation took place is also under investigation by the anti-graft agency.
The EFCC chairman said preparations are ongoing to move the former minister to the appropriate correctional facility in compliance with the court judgment.
Mamman served as Minister of Power between August 2019 and September 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari before he was removed from office and replaced by Abubakar Aliyu.
The Network.NG had reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja held that Mamman was guilty of corruption tied to funds earmarked for the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
The court further ordered that the prison sentence would commence from the date of his arrest.
Justice Omotosho also directed the former minister to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged N22bn linked to the projects and ordered the forfeiture of all recovered monies and properties to the Federal Government.
The court equally directed security agencies to arrest the former minister wherever he was found following his conviction.
@thenetwork.ng
