A former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, in connection with an alleged N22bn fraud.

EFCC sources familiar with the matter said Mamman, who was a minister under the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), from 2019 to 2021, was arrested and detained at the EFCC Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday after he appeared for questioning.

Buhari had sacked Mamman in 2021, following a minor shake-up in his cabinet.

EFCC sources said the ex-minister is being grilled in connection with a probe into alleged corruption to the tune of N22bn in the execution of some power projects.

“The former minister is being detained over alleged embezzlement and diversion of about N22bn.

“He is being investigated for allegedly conspiring with some staff members of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert N22bn and share among themselves,” a source said.

According to the source, the investigations uncovered properties in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars have reportedly been recovered.

Efforts by our correspondent to reach the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, for comments, were unsuccessful, as he neither picked up phone calls nor responded to a text message.

The PUNCH reports that the EFCC had, in November 2022, launched an investigation into the controversial $5.8bn Mambilla Hydro Electric Power project contract to Sunrise Power.

The current Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, had disclosed that the Sunrise litigation on the project was the only problem hampering its commencement.

“The EFCC has stepped into the matter and we have given them information about it. We have given them the history of the power project. Our lawyers have interfaced with the anti-graft agency. Unless we are able to pull out of litigation, we can’t do anything.

“I don’t think the investor will bring his money where there is an encumbrance,” Aliyu said in a 2022 report.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/ex-power-minister-arrested-over-alleged-n22bn-fraud/%3famp

Bad Market

SMH, this is the One Nigeria Awo desperately fought for, Spits!

Nothing positive will come out of it

Why hasn't EFCC go after this man ever since he was sacked by Buhari? How sincere is really EFCC?
This man that deceived the president on Mambilla power project and shamelessly announced to the world that the project is near completion while not even site clearance has been done which led to his sack over a year ago! Thanks to BBC Hausa reporter who exposed his lies!
If EFCC is serious about fighting corruption, this man should sleep in Kirikiri prison pending the determination of the case in court! Facts are are there

He's bigger than Efcc

Karlovych:
SMH, this is the One Nigeria Awo desperately fought for, Spits!

Is that the same Awo who demanded a secession clause during pre-independence talks, only to be vehemently opposed by Azikiwe? The same Awo who was only a finance minister under Gowon, the actual head of state during the civil war? It's almost as if there were a tribalistic agenda driving your comment ...

I know someone that works as an Auditor with Mambilla Hydro project , even as the project is moribund the chap has bought many houses in Abuja since joining

😳😳😳😳😳

The only way to end corruption in Nigeria is to put death penalty if found guilty esp for those in position of power...

Nigeria is fantastically and bloodily corrupt...

One of the genes of Nigerians is corruption...

The only way to bring rapid development in Nigeria is to bring in the whites to be in charge of our affairs for a period of at least 15years ....

I hope those that always accuse EFCC of going only after Yahoo boys can see that they are also after thieves

He will be released soon

Corruption and embezzlement

This government is the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria.

Buhari na scammer himself.

Blood of Jesus

This is nothing new.
He'll still be acquitted. Just a matter of time now. Politics in Naija is all about corruption

Imagine all the monies stolen by these people.
Accountant General was over 100b.
By the time you do an audit you will score the money stolen is in trillions over 8years.

Instead of going after them,you want to increase tax on the poor masses

And he claimed to be fighting against corruption......eho go give me money to jakpa abeg

What is the worst that can happen? He goes to prison for 5 years and love in the VIP section of kuje prison, where he is allowed technological devices coupled with entertainment coupled with 3 square meal from any restaurant of choice ... With the warders helping him wash his clothes and calling him OGA?

I blame the youth becasue the spell that we are under is not an ordinary one.

22 billion on one man's control ... Continue

That man stopped picking up my calls. Very corrupt elder that likes young kpekus. Na bad old niggar

Greedy old men swimming in the murky waters of corruption in a failed nation. 22 billion naira..!

Karlovych:
SMH, this is the One Nigeria Awo desperately fought for, Spits!

Who remove regional system of government?

We all are doing well

Take him , everyone involved to eagle square and behead all of them.

In Reno's voice " they should settle it in the mosque"

Wicked people in government.

Bad apple