Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has been jailed 75 years over money laundering running into several billions of naira.
He was jailed in absentia today by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court over a N33.8bn money laundering and fraud case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Eagle reports that Mamman was a minister during the presidency of late Muhammadu Buhari.
Holding that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, it convicted the defendant on all 12 counts, stating that the terms would run consecutively and not concurrently, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.
Saleh Mamman was sent to seven years’ imprisonment each on counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 without an option of fine; three years on count four with an option of a N10m fine and two years on count five without an option of fine.
The judge held that Mamman’s absence in court during the judgment and sentencing proceedings was a deliberate attempt to frustrate the administration of justice.
Relying on provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the court agreed with EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), that sentencing could validly proceed despite the defendant’s absence.
Justice Omotosho subsequently ordered all security agencies, including Interpol, to arrest Mamman wherever he is found and hand him over to the Nigerian Correctional Service to begin serving his sentence.
According to the court, all recovered funds, foreign currencies, and properties linked to the convict, are to be forfeited to the federal government.
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