Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Wednesday, sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years’ imprisonment.
He was said to have been linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
The court ordered that the sentences attracted by each of the 12 counts run consecutively, not concurrently.
A concurrent term would have amounted to seven years’ imprisonment, the highest imposed for any of the counts.
Justice Omotosho further ordered that the jail term would begin from the day the convict is arrested.
The judge also directed all security agencies to arrest Mamman wherever he is found.
The court equally ordered that all monies and properties recovered from the former minister be forfeited to the Federal Government, while directing him to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged N22bn linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydroelectric power projects.
Justice Omotosho also sentenced him to a three-year jail term on Count 4 with an option of a N10 million fine and two years’ imprisonment on Count 5 without the option of a fine.
The former minister was sentenced in absentia on Wednesday.
Mr Omotosho earlier found the convict guilty in a judgement delivered on 7 May.
During his sentence, Wednesday, the judge ordered that the jail term shall take effect from the day the convict is arrested.
He also directed all security agencies to arrest Mamman wherever he is found.
The court further ordered the forfeiture of all the funds and properties recovered from the former minister to the federal government. It also ordered him to refund the outstanding balance from the alleged N22 billion linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru projects.
The case against former Minister of Power, Mr Mamman, stemmed from his tenure between 2019 and 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, during which he oversaw Nigeria’s power sector and major federal hydroelectric projects, including the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said he conspired with ministry officials and private companies to divert funds allocated to the projects.
