EFCC arrests former power minister over alleged N22bn fraud
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) have arrested a former minister of power Saleh Mamman in connection with an alleged N22 billion fraud.
Mamman, who served as a minister under President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2021, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday, May 10 and detained at the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja.
The arrest is said to be in connection with the Commission’s ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in the execution of some power projects.
Mamman is accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla power projects to divert and share N22 billion among themselves.
It was gathered that the investigations have uncovered properties in Nigeria and abroad allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars have reportedly been recovered.
President Muhammadu Buhari on September 1, 2021, sacked Mamman and Sabo Nanono, the minister of agriculture and rural development, in a cabinet reshuffle.
Mamman’s two-year tenure as power minister was marred by policy inconsistency and non-constitution of the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
