Nigerian authorities arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman in Kaduna after a court sentenced him in absentia to 75 years in prison [1].
The arrest marks a significant step in Nigeria's effort to prosecute high-level government officials for financial crimes and the misappropriation of public funds.
Mamman was apprehended in mid-May at a hideout during a 3:30 a.m. operation [4, 5]. The arrest followed a conviction on May 7, 2026 [2], when a court found him guilty of 12 counts of corruption and money laundering [3].
The charges are tied to two government-backed hydroelectric projects. Investigators said that Mamman was involved in fraud totaling approximately ₦33.8 billion [4].
Because the conviction occurred while Mamman was in hiding, the court originally handed down the 75-year sentence in absentia [1]. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tracked the former minister to Kaduna, where the operation took place [4, 5].
The 75-year term is one of the most severe sentences handed down in recent Nigerian graft cases, reflecting the scale of the alleged theft from the energy sector [1].
“Saleh Mamman was arrested in Kaduna after a court sentenced him in absentia to 75 years.”
The capture and sentencing of a former cabinet minister underscore the Nigerian government's current strategy to recover stolen assets from infrastructure projects. By pursuing high-profile figures and securing lengthy sentences, the state aims to deter systemic corruption within the energy sector, which is critical for the country's economic stability.
