Nigeria Corruption Crackdown 2026: Ex-Power Minister Saleh Mamman Arrested After 75-Year Sentence

Published: 20 May 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

In a significant and highly publicized victory for Nigeria’s anti-corruption crusade, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully apprehended former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following a tense, weeks-long manhunt. The former cabinet official, who had been on the run since his conviction on May 7, was captured in the early hours of Tuesday, May 19, 2026, during a tactical intelligence operation in Rigasa, Kaduna State. The arrest, confirmed by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede at a press briefing in Abuja, marks the end of an embarrassing administrative “bottleneck” that had sparked nationwide scrutiny over the efficacy of Nigeria’s judicial and enforcement processes regarding politically exposed persons.

Mamman’s capture comes just days after a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced him in absentia to 75 years in prison for his role in a staggering 33.8 billion naira (approximately $24.7 million) fraud scandal. Prosecutors successfully proved that the funds, which were earmarked for the critical Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects—initiatives vital to addressing Nigeria’s chronic electricity deficit—were systematically diverted through private companies. The judgment, delivered on May 13, saw the court impose 11 consecutive seven-year sentences, effectively ensuring that the former minister would face a lifetime behind bars. The court also ordered the immediate forfeiture of four luxury properties in Abuja and the recovery of various foreign currencies linked to his illicit activities.

The circumstances surrounding Mamman’s time as a fugitive were described by the EFCC as an “asymmetric” challenge to the agency’s surveillance capabilities. After failing to appear for his sentencing, the former minister vanished, leading to intense public criticism of the judicial system’s failure to prevent the flight of high-profile suspects. During the Tuesday press conference, Chairman Olukoyede revealed that Mamman had not been acting alone; he had been actively protected in a safe house in Kaduna. Two individuals found sheltering the former minister were also taken into custody and are currently under investigation for obstructing justice. “We have discovered that he was actually being protected all this while,” Olukoyede stated, adding that the owners of the property in Rigasa are now being pursued as part of a broader crackdown on those who provide cover for convicted criminals.

The arrest is being hailed by legal observers as a landmark moment in the fight against “accountability rot” within the public sector. For years, the power sector has been a primary target for allegations of graft, consuming trillions of naira in public investment while delivering limited improvements to the national grid. Mamman’s conviction and subsequent capture are seen as a “clinical” demonstration that the federal government is increasingly willing to hold high-ranking officials to the same standard as ordinary citizens. However, the case has also prompted a critical internal review within the EFCC. The agency chairman acknowledged that the former minister’s ability to slip through the system was a “lesson learned,” promising that, moving forward, all high-profile defendants will be placed under rigorous, 24-hour intelligence surveillance from the moment they are arraigned.

For many Nigerians, who have remained skeptical of the country’s ability to prosecute the powerful, the image of a former minister being led away in handcuffs offers a rare glimpse of judicial follow-through. Yet, the work is far from finished. The EFCC has confirmed that its asset-tracing units are continuing to scour both national and international records for additional properties and funds linked to Mamman, suggesting that the 33.8 billion naira figure may only be the tip of the iceberg. As Mamman is processed for transfer to a correctional facility to begin his 75-year sentence, the government is signaling that the era of impunity for those who “pilfer government national resources” is drawing to a close. Whether this arrest serves as a true turning point or a singular success remains to be seen, but for now, the “eagle eye” of the EFCC has successfully closed one of the most high-profile chapters of political corruption in recent memory.

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