The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has remanded the immediate past Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman in the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje, Abuja, after an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to commence his 75 years prison term.
The EFCC yesterday, took Mamman before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, who ordered that he be remanded in prison custody pending the case. Reports The PUNCH.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, in a statement said the court procedure was also accompanied by the filing of a subsequent order by the EFCC asking for the confiscation of five more properties believed to be linked to the former minister.
Oyewale said prosecution counsel and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the application dated May 25, 2026 requested an order of seizure of the properties.
At the proceedings, one Shamsudeen Mohammed, claiming to be the relation of Mamman, told the court that the former minister departed Abuja for Kaduna State by taxi immediately after his conviction and sentencing.
“My name is Shamsudeen Mohammed. He’s a relation of mine. He was unwell and I was assisting him to drink his traditional medicine. “He said he came from Abuja to Kaduna in a taxi.
Mohammed said he did not know the owner of the apartment where Mamman was said to be hiding in Rigasa, Kaduna.
“I don’t know the owner of the apartment he was staying at. It was a rented one” he remarked.
Justice Omotosho told him that he would begin serving his jail term immediately after the sessions.
“The sentence begins to run from today. The judgement was passed when you were in Abuja. You were in Abuja when the judgement was given. You took a taxi to Kaduna alone. I’ve finished my work. “I just have to tell you because today is the start of your sentence,” the judge remarked.
Mamman informed the court he had stayed away from the proceedings due of health reasons.
The judge also reconsidered aspects of the May 7 order in the matter before the court as the EFCC applied for the confiscation of more assets.
The properties in the application are Walijam Apartments, Plot 435 Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited, No. 5 Amana Crescent, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; mansions, Nos. 11 and 13 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A. Plaza, Plot 734 Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Mamman’s lawyer, Femi Atteh, did not appear in court despite having been advised about the forfeiture application by the prosecution.
A lawyer thought to be representing him reportedly denied to accept the application, and then walked out of the courtroom without alerting the court or the prosecution team.
To the judge’s query, Mamman claimed he had not been in contact with his lawyer since his detention by the EFCC on May 19, 2026.
Delivering judgment on the forfeiture application, Justice Omotosho concluded that an adjournment was essential to enable the convict have fair hearing.
“The court will give adjournment for hearing on it for the forfeiture of more properties to enable the convict to defend himself,” the judge stated.
The court ordered that Mamman be served personally to allow him get a counsel of his choice and adjourned the matter till June 8, 2026, for hearing on the forfeiture action.
Mamman was sentenced to 75 years imprisonment on May 13, 2026, for stealing around N33.8 billion of state revenue.
The offender was convicted in absentia after he failed to appear in court to conclude his trial.
But this week EFCC officers nabbed him in Kaduna.
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