EFCC

BREAKING: Court Convicts Former Power Minister, Saleh Mamman Over ₦33.8bn Fraud

Published

1 month ago

May 7, 2026

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday convicted a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, on a 12-count charge of money laundering involving ₦33.8 billion preferred against him by the Federal Government.

In a judgment delivered by the trial judge, James Omotosho, the court held that the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), had proved its case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt, as required by law.

The judge held that the prosecution established that at least ₦22 billion was siphoned by the defendant and his cronies, stating that: “This is sufficient to sustain the charge. Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted on Count One of the charge.

“The defence did not offer any credible evidence to rebut the evidence of the prosecution. Upon the unchallenged evidence of the prosecution, the court hereby convicts the defendant on Count One of the charge,” Justice Omotosho held, adding that Mamman’s diversion of funds meant for projects such as the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects for personal use was a glaring abuse of office.

In delivering the judgment, the judge resolved all three issues raised by Mamman in favour of the prosecution.

The judge stated: “The defence in this case attempted to recall PW-2 to testify for the defendant after the said PW-2 had already been cross-examined and discharged by this court. This attempt by the defence is, without doubt, a strange procedure, as it is liable to put the court in a position where it has to choose which of the evidence of PW-2 to believe.

“Where the court permits such, there is no way to know if the defence would recall all the other 16 prosecution witnesses as its own witnesses. The defence had the opportunity to cross-examine PW-2 and elicit any evidence it desired.

“It cannot be allowed to make a mockery of the justice system by turning around to call the same PW-2 as its own witness. This is a ridiculous notion which this court will not accord any dignity to.

“The intention of the defence is not to clear ambiguities but to rubbish the evidence of PW-2 and waste the time of this court.

“No miscarriage of justice has occurred as a result of prohibiting PW-2 from being recalled. Consequently, this issue is resolved in favour of the prosecution,” he said.

PW-2, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, is an official of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Treasury House, where he serves as Director of the Federal Projects Financial Management Department.

On the issue of the non-production of the records of PW-9 and PW-11 showing how and to whom they handed over cash after their accounts were credited, the judge held that the defence did not possess secondary evidence of the records to make a notice to produce useful information in the case.

Besides, he held that the prosecution was at liberty to tender whichever evidence it deemed fit.

“Now, a notice to produce is useful where a party intends to tender secondary evidence of a document. This is according to Section 91 of the Evidence Act. Consequently, this issue is resolved in favour of the prosecution,” Justice Omotosho held.

The judge also ruled that, on the issue of the objection that the amended charge was incompetent, the prosecution was empowered to amend or frame a new charge in line with Sections 216 and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

On the substantive issue, Justice Omotosho observed that the burden on the prosecution to establish the guilt of a defendant was a heavy one, which the EFCC successfully discharged beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge noted that some of the EFCC’s witnesses testified on how funds budgeted for power projects were moved in disguise on the instruction of the former minister.

The judge stated: “PW-9, Abdullahi Suleman, is a Bureau de Change operator who has been operating for about 25 years.

“According to him, he has several companies with which he transacts, including Prymint Investment and other companies linked to the defendant.

“PW-9 stated that he knows one Maina Goje, who is in the same business with him. He said Maina Goje usually approached him and requested his account number, which he used to purchase dollars.

“He said Maina Goje began requesting more accounts, and the same accounts were used to purchase US dollars. He stated that the transactions in question commenced in 2019 and continued until 2024, with a total value of approximately ₦22 billion.”

“The sheer greed of the defendant and his accomplices is nothing but downright shameful. For a defendant who held such a critical position as Minister of Power, rather than being concerned with creating a legacy by solving the country’s epileptic power supply, he instead siphoned and converted funds meant for critical projects into private pockets.

“The defendant was living lavishly at the expense of ordinary Nigerians who have suffered the consequences of his malfeasance. Little wonder Nigeria has remained in darkness,” the judge said.

According to Justice Omotosho: “I must say the defendant was ingenious in trying to hide his involvement by using proxy companies and accomplices to collect funds on his behalf.

“However, the diligent investigation of the prosecution was able to link him to the funds. This court must commend the detailed nature of the investigation carried out in this matter and the coherent and cogent case presented against the defendant.

“The defendant, on the other hand, is condemned for greedily converting public funds to his personal use.

“In final analysis, the prosecution has established the 12-count charge against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

“Consequently, he is hereby convicted as charged,” Justice Omotosho held.

The judge further criticised the convicted former minister for living extravagantly at the expense of Nigerians, stating that his actions contributed to the country’s persistent electricity challenges.

Shortly after Mamman was found guilty on all 12 counts and convicted accordingly, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, prayed the court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the convict, who was absent in court when the judgment was delivered without explanation.

Oyedepo, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation (DPPF), argued that the law empowers the court to impose sentence whenever a defendant is arrested or voluntarily appears before the court.

He further argued that the defence failed to provide credible evidence, such as a medical report, to support the claim that the convict was ill.

When the case was called, counsel to the convict, Mohammed Ahmed, informed the court that he had not had access to his client since Tuesday, when he received notice of the judgment.

He, however, pleaded with the court for an adjournment to enable his client present himself, adding that if the defendant failed to appear on the next adjourned date, the court could then issue a warrant for his arrest.

However, when the judge asked Ahmed when he believed the defendant could be contacted to appear in court, the lawyer said he would reach out to the former minister’s personal assistant.

He added that one of the convict’s associates informed him that the former minister was ill, which was the reason for his absence in court.

Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered that the former minister be produced in court by the EFCC on the next adjourned date for sentencing and adjourned the matter until May 13 for sentencing, having found the defendant guilty as charged.

The Commission, in July 2024, arraigned Mamman on allegations of money laundering and conspiracy with ministry officials and some private companies to indirectly divert ₦33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Projects.

The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. In proving its case, the EFCC called 17 witnesses and tendered 43 exhibits against the defendant before closing its case.

However, Mamman, through his lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, did not call any witness in his defence and instead filed a no-case submission, which the court dismissed in a ruling delivered in December last year.

While delivering that ruling, the judge held that the EFCC had established a prima facie case against the former minister, adding that the evidence presented was sufficient for the defendant to enter a defence, particularly considering the seriousness of the allegations.

Mamman, who was appointed Minister of Power by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2019 and relieved of his duties in September 2021, was convicted on a 12-count amended charge brought against him by the EFCC.

EFCC

Alleged $6bn Mambilla Project Fraud: Witness Clarifies Certification of FEC Meeting Extracts

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2026

Staff Editor

The Fifth Prosecution Witness (PW5) in the trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, clarified issues surrounding the certification of the extract of the minutes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, following a formal request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for certified extracts of the meeting.

The former minister is facing prosecution on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract worth $6 billion to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

The witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, an Assistant Director of Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice, currently serving in the Federal Ministry of Power as an Assistant Legal Adviser since August 2014, stated during cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, that the request for a certified copy of the extract of the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003, was received from the EFCC in July 2023.

He explained that the certification was eventually done in 2024 because, upon receipt of the request letter from the User Department, the Legal Department forwarded a memo to the EFCC dated July 27, 2023, but the initial copy sent to the Commission was not certified, prompting the EFCC to return it.

“It was after it was received by the EFCC in July 2023 that they realised the extract was not certified. So, in January 2024, a staff of the EFCC brought back Exhibit Three K to my Legal Adviser, and the name of the EFCC staff is Babangida.

“He brought it personally and reminded my director that it was not certified. My director then gave me the document to certify. That is why my lord will see on the face of the document that the date it was certified, January 26, 2024, is different from the date it was forwarded. It was in the process of certification that I mistakenly stamped the original forwarding letter dated June 27, 2023. After stamping the document, I gave it back to my director, who I believe handed it over to Babangida because I left them afterwards,” he said.

When asked whether his earlier testimony suggesting certification in June 2023 was contradictory, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, defended the witness’ position, insisting that the testimony was not contradictory and that court records spoke for themselves.

“My lord, I object to this particular question anchored on Exhibit PW5A, which was just tendered in court. What I see in our record, and what I believe is reflected in the records of the court, is that in his explanation, he summarised that all these activities were done in June 2023; he never said the certification was done in 2023.

“This objection is founded on Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is superior to the Evidence Act. We will rely on the record of the court, particularly line 16,” he said.

The witness was also asked whether the document tendered in court by Babangida during his testimony was a different extract of the FEC meeting from the one he certified.

The prosecution counsel again objected, arguing that the witness, in line with court procedure, was absent from the courtroom during Babangida’s testimony and therefore could not be cross-examined on a document that was not tendered through him. He cited the case of Buhari v. INEC & Others (2008).

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 18 and July 2, 2026, for the continuation of trial.

EFCC

EFCC Arraigns Three Over Alleged ₦10bn Fidelity Bank Fraud in Lagos

Published

4 days ago

June 11, 2026

Staff Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three men and another suspect currently at large before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged ₦10 billion fraud involving Fidelity Bank Plc.

The defendants, identified as Ibeh Emmanuel, Chidiebere Ihekoronye, Akubuo Chimuanya, and Austen Peaks Aniekan, who is currently at large, were brought before Justice Olubusola A. Okunuga on Wednesday on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and forgery.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently obtain ₦10 billion from Fidelity Bank Plc through forged documents and false representations.

One of the charges alleged that on or about April 16, 2026, the defendants, with intent to defraud, conspired among themselves to obtain the sum of ₦10 billion from Fidelity Bank Plc by falsely claiming that Maton Engineering Limited, which maintains account number 4011468821 with the bank, had issued an irrevocable standing order directing the reservation, blocking, and transfer of the funds in favour of Prospera Finance Limited, domiciled with Wema Bank Plc.

The anti-graft agency stated that the representation was false and that the defendants were fully aware of its falsity at the time it was made.

The commission further alleged that the defendants attempted to obtain the said amount based on the same purported instruction and false representation.

According to the charge, the alleged offences contravene Sections 1(1)(a), 8(a), and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

The EFCC also accused Emmanuel of being in possession of a document purportedly issued by Fidelity Bank Plc confirming the existence of blocked funds amounting to ₦10 billion in favour of Prospera Finance Limited, which he allegedly knew to be false.

In addition, the defendants were accused of forging a document titled, “Confirmation of Ten Billion Naira (₦10,000,000,000.00) Blocked Funds in Favour of Prospera Finance Limited,” purportedly emanating from Fidelity Bank Plc.

The commission alleged that the document was knowingly fabricated without lawful authority, contrary to Section 365(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel, A.A. Usman, urged the court to fix a date for trial and requested that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending the determination of their bail applications.

Justice Okunuga subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until June 18, 2026, for the hearing of their bail applications and the commencement of trial.

The EFCC stated that investigations into the alleged fraud are ongoing, while efforts are being intensified to apprehend the fourth defendant, Aniekan, who remains at large.

EFCC

EFCC Arraigns Blessing CEO for Fresh Alleged ₦69.1m Fraud

Published

5 days ago

June 10, 2026

Staff Editor

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, arraigned a social media influencer, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka (a.k.a. Blessing CEO), before Justice R.A. Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged ₦69,150,000 fraud.

Nkiruka was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦69,150,000.

At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to proceed with the arraignment, arguing that the defendant had been duly served with the charge.

However, defence counsel, Nkama Nneka, informed the court that service of the charge had only recently been effected.

In his ruling, Justice Oshodi held that the arraignment should proceed in accordance with the law. Consequently, the charges were read to the defendant.

Count one reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, induced Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited to confer a benefit of ₦69,150,000 (Sixty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) on you under the representation that the property located at No. 1 Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, belonged to you and was leased to the company for a period of five years, a representation you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(2) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act.”

Count two reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, on or about March 21, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use the sum of ₦69,150,000 (Sixty-Nine Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira), being the property of Hope Chiropractic Health Clinic Limited, thereby committing an offence of stealing contrary to Section 280(2) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.

Following her plea, Okezie asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in EFCC custody pending her scheduled arraignment before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on June 10, 2026, in another alleged fraud case.

Consequently, Justice Oshodi remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.

In a related development, Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, granted Blessing Nkiruka, who is being prosecuted for an alleged ₦36 million fraud, bail in the sum of ₦10 million with two sureties in like sum.

One of the sureties must be a family member and is required to provide proof of employment, a Bank Verification Number (BVN), National Identification Number (NIN), and a valid phone number.

The sureties must also submit a valid international passport, tax clearance certificates for the last two years, and six passport photographs.

The defendant was earlier arraigned on a two-count charge by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36 million.