Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to transfer former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Kuje, for the commencement of his 75-year prison sentence.
The order was issued on Tuesday following Mamman’s presentation before the court by the EFCC and the filing of a consequential application seeking the forfeiture of five additional properties allegedly linked to the convict.
Counsel to the prosecution and Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that the application dated May 25, 2026, sought an order for the forfeiture of the properties traced to Mamman.
During proceedings, the court heard testimony from one Shamsudeen Mohammed, who disclosed that Mamman had remained in Abuja after his conviction and sentencing before fleeing to Kaduna State by taxi two days later.
“My name is Shamsudeen Mohammed. He is my relative. He was sick and I was helping him to take his traditional medicine. He was brought by a taxi from Abuja to Kaduna,” he told the court.
Mohammed added that he did not know the owner of the apartment in the Rigasa area of Kaduna where Mamman was allegedly hiding, stating only that it was a rented apartment.
Justice Omotosho informed Mamman that his prison sentence would commence immediately after the proceedings.
“The sentence starts to run from today. You were in Abuja when the judgment was passed. You were in Abuja when the sentence was passed. You left alone in a taxi to Kaduna. I have done my work. I just have to inform you because today is the commencement of your sentence,” the judge stated.
Mamman told the court that his absence from previous proceedings was due to ill health.
The judge subsequently reviewed portions of the court’s May 7 judgment before entertaining the EFCC’s application for the forfeiture of five additional properties allegedly connected to the former minister.
The properties include Walijam Apartments located on Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; two mansions on Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A. Plaza on Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
Although Mamman’s counsel, Femi Atteh, SAN, had reportedly been notified of the forfeiture application, he was absent from court. The lawyer said to have represented him allegedly declined service of the application and exited the courtroom without notifying the court or prosecution team.
Responding to questions from the bench, Mamman said he had not communicated with his lawyer since his arrest by EFCC operatives on May 19, 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Omotosho held that adjournment of the forfeiture proceedings was necessary to ensure fair hearing.
“For the forfeiture of additional properties, the court will give adjournment for hearing on it to enable the convict to defend himself,” he ruled.
The judge directed that Mamman be personally served with the application to enable him engage counsel of his choice and adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for hearing.
The EFCC had prosecuted Mamman on an amended 16-count charge bordering on money laundering and acquisition of multi-million naira properties outside the financial system involving over N33.8 billion.
Justice Omotosho convicted him on all counts on May 7, 2026, and sentenced him on May 13, 2026, to a cumulative 75-year prison term.
Following repeated absences from court, including during his conviction and sentencing, the court issued a warrant for his arrest.
EFCC operatives subsequently arrested Mamman in the early hours of May 19, 2026, at a hideout in the Rigasa area of Kaduna State alongside his relative, Shamsudeen Mohammed, after what the commission described as intensive surveillance and intelligence operations.
