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Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has been transferred to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, where he will serve his 75-year prison term for money laundering.
Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in a statement shared on X on Tuesday, revealed that Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued the directive after the agency presented the former minister in court.
“Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to hand over the former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje, Abuja, for the commencement of his 75-year prison term,” the agency wrote.
Mamman was convicted on May 7, 2026, on all counts of an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering involving over ₦33.8 billion.
EFCC Transfers Saleh Mamman to Correctional Centre
Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to hand over the former Minister for Power, Saleh Mamman to the Nigeria… pic.twitter.com/W2oMKrt0Yc
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) May 26, 2026
The former power minister was sentenced in absentia on May 13 to a total of 75 years imprisonment. The court also entertained a consequential application seeking the forfeiture of five additional properties allegedly linked to the former minister.
The judge informed Mamman that his prison sentence began immediately after the court proceedings.
“The sentence starts to run from today. You were in Abuja when the judgment was passed. You left alone in a taxi to Kaduna. I have done my work. I just have to inform you because today is the commencement of your sentence. I will read the judgment for you to know why the conviction and sentencing were done,” he said.
The former minister told the court that he stayed away from the proceedings because of ill health.
His counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, was informed by the prosecution counsel about the asset forfeiture application in good time, but he failed to appear in court.
The EFCC added that the legal representative he sent “curiously refused to accept the forfeiture application and left the courtroom without notifying both the court and the prosecution team.”
Mamman also told the court that he had not been in contact with his counsel since his arrest and detention by the EFCC on May 19, 2026.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the hearing on the forfeiture application until June 8, 2026, to allow the former minister to respond to the application.
“For the forfeiture of additional properties, the court will give an adjournment for hearing on it to enable the convict to defend himself,” the judge said.
