The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, over alleged N22 billion fraud. Mamman, who was taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday, is currently being questioned by EFCC detectives at its headquarters in Abuja.
Reliable sources informed Daily Trust that Mamman would be detained until the commission’s operatives obtain the necessary information from the former minister. Mamman served as the Minister of Power from August 2019 to September 2021, after being nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari and confirmed by the Senate.
According to the source, Mamman’s arrest is connected to the EFCC’s ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the execution of some power projects. Specifically, Mamman is accused of conspiring with staff from the Ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects and diverting N22 billion, which they allegedly shared among themselves.
The investigation has also reportedly uncovered properties in Nigeria and abroad linked to the suspects, as well as the recovery of millions of naira and United States dollars. Calls and text messages to the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, remained unanswered at the time of the report.
