Arrest comes six days after conviction in absentia over ₦33.8bn fraud tied to stalled Mambilla and Zungeru power projects.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in a pre-dawn operation in Kano, just six days after he was sentenced in absentia to 75 years in prison for a ₦33.8 billion money laundering case.

EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede confirmed that Mamman was picked up around 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. He was reportedly found in the company of two individuals believed to be aiding his concealment. Authorities say the property where he was apprehended is now under active investigation.

Mamman’s conviction stems from the diversion of billions of naira earmarked for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects—critical infrastructure initiatives designed to address Nigeria’s persistent electricity shortages. The case has drawn widespread attention as part of broader efforts to clamp down on high-level corruption in the power sector.