Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman days after he was convicted in a multi-billion naira corruption case linked to major hydroelectric projects.
EFCC officials said Mamman was arrested in Kaduna in the early hours of Tuesday alongside two individuals accused of shielding him from authorities after he reportedly went missing during court proceedings.
Last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the former minister to a combined 75 years in prison after finding him guilty on 12 counts of money laundering and financial misappropriation involving ₦33.8 billion (about $25 million).
Prosecutors said funds intended for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects were diverted through private companies and currency exchange operators while Mamman served under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The case is being closely watched as a major test of Nigeria’s long-running anti-corruption drive, particularly in the power sector, where decades of underinvestment, failed projects and alleged fraud have contributed to chronic electricity shortages affecting millions of people.