A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Monday issued a warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following his absence in an ongoing ₦31 billion fraud trial involving him and six others.
Justice Maryanne Anenih ordered the arrest after the former minister failed to appear in court for the continuation of proceedings. The judge subsequently adjourned the case until Thursday.
This marks the second arrest warrant issued against Mamman within days. Last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice James Omotosho, convicted the former minister in a separate ₦33.8 billion corruption case linked to the diversion of funds meant for major power projects.
During Monday’s proceedings, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, requested that the court issue a bench warrant and allow the trial to continue despite Mamman’s absence. Granting the request, Justice Anenih ruled that proceedings would continue without the first defendant.
Mamman, who served as Minister of Power between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, is standing trial alongside Mustapha Abubakar Bida, Joseph Omotayo Adewunmi, Ben Nsikak, Stephen Ojo, Oladipo Adebowale, Michael Achua, and Ogunjobi Olusila on allegations bordering on conspiracy, false pretence, and the diversion of public funds totaling ₦31 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that billions of naira earmarked for the Mambilla Power Project were diverted through Bureau de Change operators under Mamman’s directive. According to the anti-graft agency, more than ₦26 billion was funneled through suspicious transactions.
While all other defendants appeared in court on Monday, Mamman was absent. His lawyer, Femi Atteh, SAN, told the court he did not know his client’s whereabouts, adding that prosecutors had earlier described Mamman as being in the custody of the state following the Federal High Court’s arrest order.
However, prosecution counsel Oyedepo insisted the former minister was “still in hiding” and noted that the earlier arrest warrant had not yet been executed.
The latest case adds to Mamman’s growing legal troubles after his conviction last week on 12 amended money laundering charges involving the alleged diversion of ₦33.8 billion meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
The EFCC said the former minister conspired with ministry officials and private firms to siphon public funds allocated for the projects. During that trial, the commission presented 17 witnesses and 43 exhibits, while the defence called no witness and instead challenged the legality of the charges — a challenge dismissed by the court.
Justice Omotosho is expected to sentence Mamman on Wednesday.