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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p>
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<p>The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, convicted former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on 12 counts amended charge, bordering on money laundering, filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.</p>
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<p>Despite Mamman’s absence in court, Justice James Omotosho held that the EFCC proved its case against the former minister beyond a reasonable doubt and consequently found him guilty on all the counts.</p>
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<p>Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari between August 2019 and September 2021, was prosecuted over alleged diversion and laundering of funds linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.</p>
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<p>The anti-graft agency accused him of conspiring with officials and private companies to divert public funds meant for power sector projects.</p>
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<p>Justice Omotosho said he was satisfied with the evidence led by the prosecution before convicting Mamman on all the charges.</p>
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<p>Justice Omotosho described the prosecution’s case as overwhelming and the defence as almost non-existent.</p>
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<p>“The evidence of the prosecution is overwhelming as against the scanty and almost absent defence of the defendant. The defendant did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the prosecution’s case,” he held.</p>
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<p>The court heard that most of the diverted funds were funnelled through Bureau de Change operators, who converted the money into foreign currencies before handing it over to Mamman.</p>
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<p>The judge also took a swipe at the former minister’s tenure, lamenting that a man who held the nation’s power sector in his hands showed no interest in leaving a meaningful legacy.</p>
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<p>“Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today,” Justice Omotosho added.</p>
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<p>The conviction was handed down in Mamman’s absence, forcing the court to defer sentencing. The EFCC immediately applied for a warrant of arrest.</p>
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<p>His lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that the defendant’s whereabouts had been unknown since last Tuesday when notice of the scheduled judgment was issued, adding that his personal assistant later claimed he was sick.</p>
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<p>Ahmed’s bid to persuade the court to adjourn the judgment failed.</p>
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<p>The trial judge, however, was unconvinced, referencing news reports showing that Mamman had recently been involved in political activities, including purchasing a form to contest the governorship election in Taraba State.</p>
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<p>EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to proceed, dismissing any justification for the defendant’s absence.</p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>“My Lord should go ahead. If the judgment is in his favour, we know what to do. If it is against him, we also know what to do,” he said.</p>
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<p>Mamman was first arrested in 2021, approximately four months after ex-President Buhari removed him from office.</p>
<p> ;</p>
<p>The EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits before closing its case, alleging that he conspired with ministry staff to divert about â¦22 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects.</p>
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<p>Investigations, the agency said, revealed that the funds were used to acquire choice assets both within and outside the country.</p>
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