Former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, has appealed his conviction and 75-year prison sentence over a ₦33.8 billion fraud case, asking the Court of Appeal in Abuja to overturn the judgment and discharge and acquit him.
Mamman was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on 12 counts linked to money laundering and fraud involving funds connected to the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects. Justice James Omotosho subsequently sentenced him to a total of 75 years in prison, with the terms ordered to run consecutively.
In a notice of appeal dated May 26, 2026, filed by his legal team led by Femi Atteh, SAN, Mamman raised 18 grounds challenging the judgment.
A major ground of the appeal is an allegation that his right to fair hearing was breached when judgment was delivered in his absence on May 7, despite an earlier date reportedly fixed for June 9.
His lawyers argued that the judgment date was brought forward without adequate notice being served on him and that he had not waived his right to be present. They contended that this amounted to a violation of his constitutional right to a fair hearing.
Mamman’s legal team also alleged that the trial court prevented a subpoenaed defence witness, Abdulkareem Ozi Ibrahim, from testifying, while allowing the prosecution to reopen its examination of the same witness after its case had already been closed.
The former minister further challenged the reliance on what his lawyers described as uncorroborated accomplice evidence and argued that no plea was taken on counts seven to 12.
His lawyers also disputed the trial court’s findings concerning funds linked to the Zungeru and Mambilla power projects. They argued that the funds were domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria and controlled by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, and that Mamman was neither an approving authority nor a signatory to the relevant accounts.
The appeal further alleged that the trial court relied on hearsay, disregarded documentary evidence and improperly shifted the burden of proof onto Mamman over the source of funds used to purchase a property on Lungi Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
His lawyers also challenged the admission of his extra-judicial statements, alleging that the requirements of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, including audio-visual recording, were not complied with.
The defence additionally alleged that the trial judge displayed bias during the proceedings, resulting in a miscarriage of justice.
The appeal comes after the Federal High Court struck out a separate application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seeking the forfeiture of properties allegedly linked to Mamman.
Justice Omotosho struck out the application after EFCC counsel, Abba Mohammed, formally withdrew it. The prosecution said the withdrawal followed Mamman’s appeal against the judgment.
The defence did not oppose the withdrawal, and the court subsequently granted the application and struck out the motion.
Mamman was convicted in May after the Federal High Court found that the prosecution had proved its 12-count case against him beyond reasonable doubt. The conviction and subsequent 75-year sentence were imposed in connection with the ₦33.8 billion case.
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