The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power Saleh Mamman weeks after he was convicted and sentenced in absentia over corruption charges.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede disclosed on Tuesday that Mamman was apprehended around 3:30 a.m. in Rigasa area of Kaduna State.
Mamman was convicted on May 7 on all 12 counts filed against him by the anti-graft agency and sentenced to a total of 75 years imprisonment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court.
The court sentenced him to seven years each on 10 counts, while counts four and five attracted three years and two years respectively. Justice Omotosho ruled that the sentences would run consecutively, with no option of fine except for count four, which carries a ₦10 million fine.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of foreign currencies recovered from the former minister, alongside four Abuja properties linked to him.
In addition, security agencies were directed to work with Interpol to ensure his arrest, with the sentence set to begin from the date of his capture.
Speaking at the EFCC headquarters, Olukoyede described the arrest as proof of the federal government’s resolve to fight corruption.
“I’m happy to announce to Nigerians that at about 3.30am this morning, we arrested Mr. Saleh Mamman somewhere in Rigasa, Kaduna state,” he said.
“This is a test of the commitment of the federal government of Nigeria to the fight against corruption in Nigeria, and to assure Nigerians that anyone who has pilfered government national resources will not go unpunished.”
Olukoyede added that Mamman had allegedly been shielded while evading arrest. According to him, two individuals found with the former minister during the operation were also detained.
“We have discovered that he was actually being protected all this while,” the EFCC chairman said.
“And where we effected the arrest, we arrested two other Nigerians with him inside. The owners of the property are also under investigation because it is actually a crime for you to harbour or give protection to a convict.”
