The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released mugshots of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following his arrest by operatives of the anti-graft agency.
Mamman, who was recently convicted and sentenced by a Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged financial misappropriation, was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday after weeks of surveillance by EFCC operatives.
The photographs released by the commission showed the former minister in handcuffs, holding a booking board shortly after his arrest.
He is currently being held in EFCC custody pending further legal proceedings.
Speaking at a press briefing at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, the Commission’s Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed Mamman’s arrest and said he was apprehended in Kaduna State alongside two individuals suspected of aiding him.
Olukoyede disclosed that the property where the former minister was arrested is also under investigation.
“I’m happy to announce to Nigerians that at about 3:30 a.m. this morning, we arrested Mr. Saleh Mamman,” he said.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier sentenced Mamman to 75 years imprisonment in absentia after finding him guilty on 12 counts of money laundering and fraud involving N33.8 billion linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydropower projects under the Ministry of Power.
The EFCC chairman described the arrest as evidence of the Federal Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption and the recovery of stolen public funds.
“This is a test of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the fight against corruption,” Olukoyede said, adding that anyone who misappropriates public resources will be brought to justice.
He warned that the commission would continue to pursue corruption cases without exception, stressing that no suspect would escape investigation or prosecution.
“The eagle eye of the EFCC will always catch up with you wherever you are hiding,” he said.
Olukoyede further assured that the agency would sustain its investigations into both public and private sector corruption cases across the country.