The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Nigeria’s former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following an intensive surveillance operation. The arrest comes days after Mamman was sentenced in absentia for his involvement in the diversion of over ₦33 billion intended for the Mambilla power project and other electricity initiatives.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede announced the development during a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja. He disclosed that operative apprehended Mamman at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the Rigasa area of Kaduna.
The arrest follows a 12-count conviction secured by the anti-graft agency on May 7, 2026, after charges were initially filed in January 2025. Because Mamman evaded the final court proceedings, his sentencing was deferred and subsequently handed down in absentia on May 13, prompting a judicial order for security agencies to apprehend him.
Key Highlights of the Operation
Accomplices Detained: Two additional individuals were arrested at the Kaduna location. Investigators believe they provided shelter to the former minister. Olukoyede noted that harboring a convicted felon constitutes a criminal offense and confirmed both individuals are under investigation.
Asset Recovery: The EFCC has uncovered an additional property suspected to belong to Mamman and is initiating recovery legal processes. This is separate from the assets already tied to the original court charges.
Custody Status: Mamman remains in an EFCC holding facility while the commission coordinates his transfer to a federal correctional center.
Policy Reforms Amid Legal Breakthroughs
Olukoyede characterized the operation as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government's commitment to accountability, warning that public officials who misappropriate national resources will face justice.
However, the EFCC Chairman acknowledged that the former minister's evasion of court proceedings highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in handling high-profile corruption trials.
"Going forward, there is a need for us to review our processes, particularly as they relate to ongoing court proceedings in high-profile corruption cases," Olukoyede stated. "We must be able to place every defendant under surveillance because it is not in the interest of the country for someone facing prosecution to escape from our jurisdiction."
The commission plans to collaborate with the judiciary and sister security agencies to implement strict surveillance measures for defendants currently standing criminal trial.
Legal Validation
The Director of Public Prosecution, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who led the prosecution, affirmed that the arrest successfully enforces the court's mandate.
"Barely a week after that order was made, the court's directive has been complied with," Oyedepo said. "The judgment was delivered, the sentence was handed down, and now we have been able to confront the convict with the sentence."
When questioned during the briefing regarding a separate investigation involving the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Olukoyede declined to comment, advising media personnel to maintain focus on the current judicial resolution regarding the former minister.