In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples through Nigeria’s political landscape and beyond, the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has captured former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, ending his brief yet determined stint as a fugitive. Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2019 to 2021, was arrested in the early hours of May 19, 2026, in Kaduna State after weeks of intense surveillance and intelligence operations, according to multiple reports including BBC News and Premium Times.
The arrest comes just a week after Mamman was convicted in absentia and sentenced to a staggering 75 years in prison on 12 counts of money laundering and fraud. The charges stem from the diversion of at least 22 billion naira—approximately $14 million—earmarked for two critical hydroelectric power projects: the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project and the Zungeru Power Plant. The court found that these massive sums, intended to alleviate Nigeria’s chronic electricity shortfalls, were funneled into private offshore accounts and luxury real estate portfolios through a labyrinth of shell companies and proxy associates.
EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, who addressed journalists in Abuja following the arrest, did not mince words about the agency’s determination to bring Mamman to justice. “For us, getting the convict to serve his jail terms is extremely important in view of the seriousness with which we are tackling corrupt practices,” Olukoyede stated, as quoted by BBC News. He emphasized that Mamman’s capture represented a test of the federal government’s commitment to fighting corruption at the highest levels.
Mamman’s conviction, delivered by a court in Abuja on May 13, 2026, was based on overwhelming evidence presented by prosecutors. The judge ruled that the EFCC had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, describing the diversion of public funds as a gross abuse of public trust. The prison terms attached to the various charges were ordered to run consecutively, resulting in the unusually lengthy 75-year sentence. Notably, Mamman failed to appear for his judgment, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest and directing all security agencies to ensure he had “no hiding place.”
The former minister was not alone in his attempt to evade justice. According to the EFCC, two other individuals were arrested alongside Mamman for allegedly assisting him while he was on the run. These suspects are currently under investigation, with Olukoyede warning that anyone found harboring convicted persons would face prosecution. “We discovered that he was actually being protected all this while. We arrested two other Nigerians alongside him. They are under investigation,” Olukoyede revealed, according to Premium Times.
Mamman’s case has reignited public anger over Nigeria’s persistent electricity crisis. Despite being one of Africa’s largest energy producers, the country has struggled with frequent power outages, forcing millions of households and businesses to rely on expensive fuel generators. The impact of Mamman’s tenure as power minister was particularly devastating for the sector. Despite substantial budget allocations, the national grid continued to collapse, stifling industrial growth and plunging the country into darkness. Economists at the Central Bank of Nigeria have long cited inadequate power supply as a primary driver of capital flight and inflation, with small and medium enterprises bearing the brunt of unreliable electricity.
The scale of the fraud under Mamman’s watch paralyzed sector reforms for years. Financial intelligence analysts spent months tracing the money trail through complex international banking jurisdictions, eventually piecing together the evidence that led to his conviction. The prosecution demonstrated that Mamman was not merely negligent but had orchestrated a coordinated strategy to defraud the federal republic, as detailed by Premium Times.
His arrest is being hailed as a rare victory in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against high-level corruption, where convictions of top officials have historically been uncommon. “This is a test of the commitment of the Federal Government to the fight against corruption,” Olukoyede remarked, underscoring the symbolic significance of the arrest. The EFCC has also announced plans to tighten surveillance on high-profile corruption suspects undergoing trial, aiming to prevent future escapes from justice. “It is not in the interest of the country for someone under criminal prosecution to escape from jurisdiction. We are going to work with the courts and follow all legal processes to ensure defendants in corruption cases are placed under surveillance,” Olukoyede added.
The reverberations of Mamman’s arrest extend far beyond Nigeria’s borders. In East Africa, particularly Kenya, anti-corruption agencies and civil society organizations are watching closely. Kenya’s own history of phantom dam scandals, such as the Arror and Kimwarer cases, mirrors Nigeria’s experience, highlighting the transcontinental challenge of infrastructure-related corruption. The successful prosecution and apprehension of a former cabinet minister in Nigeria provides a blueprint for other African nations seeking to hold powerful figures accountable.
As Mamman awaits transfer to a correctional facility, the EFCC has already initiated aggressive civil forfeiture proceedings to recover stolen funds scattered across global jurisdictions. The agency’s expanded investigation aims to uncover more assets linked to Mamman, with the ultimate goal of repatriating these resources to finance the very projects they were meant for. Director of Public Prosecution Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed that the process of transmitting Mamman to the correctional center is underway, assuring the public that the EFCC is committed to executing the court’s sentence in full.
Meanwhile, the federal government faces the daunting task of reforming the power ministry to prevent similar abuses in the future. Proposals include implementing digital procurement platforms, enhancing parliamentary oversight, and empowering independent engineering auditors to sanitize the contracting process. These measures are seen as crucial to closing the systemic loopholes that enabled such a massive fraud to occur unchecked.
Despite the progress represented by Mamman’s arrest, the physical and reputational damage inflicted upon Nigeria’s power sector will take years—if not decades—and billions of dollars to repair. For millions of Nigerians, the hope is that this landmark case will mark a turning point in the country’s struggle for accountability and good governance.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the darkness cast by systemic corruption is finally being challenged by the determined glare of justice. And for the first time in a long while, many Nigerians dare to believe that the long arm of the law truly can reach those who once seemed untouchable.