Ex-Power Minister Mamman Appeals 75-Year Jail Term, Seeks Acquittal
ABUJA — Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has approached the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, seeking to overturn his conviction and 75-year prison sentence imposed by the Federal High Court in Abuja over a ₦33.8 billion money-laundering and fraud case.
Mamman, who served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is asking the appellate court to quash the judgment of the Federal High Court and discharge and acquit him on all 12 counts for which he was convicted.
His appeal, filed through his legal team led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Atteh, is based on 18 grounds. The notice of appeal is dated May 26, 2026.
The former minister was sentenced by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on May 13, 2026, after the court had earlier found him guilty on May 7 of all 12 counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The charges relate to alleged diversion and laundering of funds connected to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
Justice Omotosho imposed different prison terms on the 12 counts and directed that they should run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to 75 years. Mamman was also ordered to forfeit certain assets linked to the case, while the court directed security agencies to arrest him and ensure that he serves the sentence.
Why Mamman Is Challenging the Judgment
At the centre of Mamman’s appeal is his claim that his constitutional right to fair hearing was violated during the trial.
His lawyers are challenging the decision to deliver judgment on May 7, 2026, arguing that the judgment date had previously been fixed for June 9 and that the date was brought forward without adequate notice to him.
According to the grounds of appeal, the defence contends that Mamman did not waive his right to be present when judgment was delivered and that the procedure violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The former minister is also challenging the trial court’s handling of witnesses and evidence presented during the proceedings.
His legal team argues that the trial judge prevented a subpoenaed defence witness, identified as Abdulkareem Ozi Ibrahim, a former Director of Special Projects Accounts in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, from testifying for the defence.
The defence further alleges that the prosecution was improperly allowed to reopen examination of the same witness after its case had been closed and the matter adjourned for cross-examination.
Mamman is also challenging the evidential basis of the conviction, arguing that the trial court relied substantially on what his lawyers describe as uncorroborated accomplice evidence and hearsay.
Another ground of appeal concerns counts seven to 12, with the defence maintaining that no plea was taken on those counts.
His lawyers are also contesting the trial court’s findings concerning funds for the Mambilla and Zungeru projects. They argue that the funds were domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria and controlled by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and that Mamman was neither an approving authority nor a signatory to the relevant accounts.
The defence is further challenging the admission of Mamman’s extra-judicial statements, arguing that the requirements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act relating to the recording and taking of such statements were not complied with.
The former minister’s lawyers also allege that the trial judge improperly shifted the burden of proof onto their client in relation to the source of funds used to purchase a property in Abuja.
They are asking the Court of Appeal to consider these issues and other grounds raised in the notice of appeal and ultimately set aside the conviction.
What the Trial Court Found
The EFCC had accused Mamman of laundering approximately ₦33.8 billion linked to funds meant for major hydroelectric projects, particularly the Mambilla and Zungeru power plants.
The prosecution called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits during the trial. Mamman pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho held that the EFCC had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found that funds connected to the projects were moved through various channels, including Bureau de Change operators, and concluded that Mamman was criminally responsible for the offences.
The court also found that Mamman made a cash payment of $655,700, equivalent to about ₦200 million at the time, for a property in Abuja without going through a financial institution.
The judge further held that the prosecution had established that at least ₦22 billion had been stolen or diverted from funds associated with the projects.
The sentencing followed the court’s decision to make the terms of imprisonment on the various counts consecutive rather than concurrent.
Mamman Was Not in Court for Judgment
Mamman was absent when the judgment was delivered on May 7 and was also not present when the 75-year sentence was initially imposed on May 13.
The court consequently directed security agencies to arrest him and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service.
He was subsequently apprehended in Kaduna and brought before the Federal High Court in Abuja. During proceedings following his arrest, Mamman told the court that he had stayed away because of health-related concerns.
The court subsequently ordered that his sentence would run from the date of his arrest.
EFCC Property Forfeiture Proceedings Affected by Appeal
The latest appeal has also affected a separate legal battle involving properties allegedly linked to the former minister.
The EFCC had sought orders for the permanent forfeiture of properties it said were traced to Mamman following his conviction.
However, the anti-graft agency subsequently withdrew the application after being informed that Mamman had appealed the entire judgment.
Justice Omotosho subsequently struck out the forfeiture application after EFCC counsel formally withdrew it. The development means that the appeal has become a significant part of the ongoing legal process surrounding the former minister’s conviction and assets.
Mambilla Project and Taraba Connection
The case has particular significance for Taraba State because the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, one of the major projects referenced in the case, is located on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba.
The proposed project, with an estimated generation capacity of about 3,050 megawatts, has remained stalled for years amid legal, contractual and funding-related controversies.
Mamman, a former minister from Taraba, has also been involved in the state’s political space. He declared interest in the 2027 Taraba State governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), according to reports published during the trial.
The legal development therefore comes against the backdrop of increasing political activity ahead of the 2027 governorship election in the state.
For now, however, Mamman’s conviction remains subject to the appellate process. His notice of appeal seeks to have the Federal High Court judgment overturned and for him to be discharged and acquitted.
The Court of Appeal will determine whether the grounds raised by the former minister are sufficient to overturn the conviction, vary the sentence or otherwise uphold the judgment of the trial court.
