The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has released the 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 apprehended in the early hours of Tuesday after weeks of surveillance by the Commission.
Photos released by the EFCC showed the former minister in handcuffs while holding a booking board shortly after his arrest. He is currently being held in the custody of the Commission pending further legal proceedings.
<span;>Speaking during a press briefing at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that Mamman was apprehended in Kaduna State alongside two individuals allegedly shielding him from arrest.
Olukoyede added that the property where the former minister was arrested is also being investigated by the agency.
“I’m happy to announce to Nigerians that at about 3:30 a.m. this morning, we arrested Mr. Saleh Mamman,” he said.
Last week, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Mamman to 75 years imprisonment in absentia after finding him guilty on 12 counts bordering on money laundering and fraud involving N33.8 billion.
The funds were linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru hydropower projects under the Ministry of Power.
Olukoyede described the arrest as a strong signal of the federal government’s resolve to combat corruption and recover public funds.
“This is a test of the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria to the fight against corruption in Nigeria and to assure Nigerians that anyone who has dipped into government or national resources will not go unpunished.
“The eagle eye of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will always catch up with you wherever you are hiding,” the EFCC chairman added.
He further assured Nigerians that the Commission would continue to pursue corruption cases involving both public officials and private individuals.
“We are working. There is no area that we will not go into. We will not leave any area untouched just to ensure that we fulfil our mandate,” Olukoyede stated.
“We will uphold our mandate and ensure that everyone, whether private or public, will be investigated and brought to court,” he added.
