In a rare display of accountability, a Nigerian high court has sentenced former Power Minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years in prison for laundering 33.8 billion naira—approximately $24.7 million.
Mamman, who served under the Buhari administration from 2015 to 2021, was found guilty of 12 counts related to funneling government funds meant for power plants into private firms. Despite the gravity of his crimes, the 68-year-old coward is currently a fugitive, having gone into hiding following his conviction.
Authorities have issued an arrest warrant, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The audacity of the former minister is staggering; just weeks before his sentencing, he was brazenly announcing his intent to run for governor of Taraba State in 2027.
While Mamman was busy lining his pockets, the Nigerian people were left to suffer through the chronic power shortages and frequent blackouts that have crippled the nation's economy.
This conviction serves as a stark reminder of the rot that has plagued the ministry, as millions of citizens are forced to rely on expensive fuel-powered generators just to keep the lights on.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission continues its broader anti-corruption drive, targeting other high-profile officials in a necessary effort to purge the government of those who treat public office as a personal piggy bank.
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