Saleh Mamman is a Nigerian engineer and former Minister of Power (2019–2021) sentenced to 75 years in prison for a ₦33.8 billion money laundering scandal.
Saleh Mamman, formally known as Mamman Kwagyang Saleh, is a Nigerian engineer-turned-politician who served as the Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari from August 2019 to September 2021. Born on 2 January 1958 in Taraba State, he built a modest career in engineering and public service before ascending to one of the most critical positions in Nigeria’s federal cabinet.
His tenure, however, has become infamous rather than celebrated. In May 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja convicted Mamman on all 12 counts of money laundering and corruption preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), sentencing him to 75 years in prison. The case, involving the diversion of approximately ₦33.8 billion meant for major hydroelectric projects, has made him one of the most high-profile corruption convictions in Nigeria’s recent political history.
Key Details About Saleh Mamman
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mamman Kwagyang Saleh |
| Date of Birth | 2 January 1958 |
| Age | 67 (as of 2026) |
| State of Origin | Taraba State, Nigeria |
| Ethnicity | Mumuye |
| Profession | Engineer, Civil Servant, Politician |
| Education | HND, Kaduna Polytechnic (1988); MBA, Bayero University Kano (2015) |
| Political Party | All Progressives Congress (APC) |
| Famous For | Former Minister of Power; 75-year corruption sentence |
| Marital Status | Married |
Early Life and Family Background
Saleh Mamman was born on 2 January 1958 in Taraba State, in the northeastern region of Nigeria. He is of Mumuye ethnic descent, a community indigenous to Taraba State. Details about his parents and childhood upbringing remain largely private, consistent with how he has managed his personal life throughout his career.
He grew up in a period of significant national transition for Nigeria and pursued a technical education path that would define his early professional identity. His roots in Taraba State remained a central part of his public identity, and he consistently voiced concerns about the state’s underdevelopment relative to other states created around the same time.
Education
Mamman pursued a technical and engineering-focused education. He obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic in 1988, equipping him with the foundational skills for a career in public infrastructure and electrical services.
Decades later, he returned to formal education to broaden his administrative capabilities. In 2015, he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Bayero University, Kano — a move that positioned him for leadership roles in government and policy.
Career: From Classroom to Cabinet
Saleh Mamman began his professional life in 1981 as a teacher at a Technical School in Mubi, Adamawa State. It was a modest start, but it planted the seeds of a career that would grow in public service. In 1992, he transferred to the Taraba State Ministry of Works, where he steadily rose through the ranks.
He eventually attained the rank of Assistant Director in charge of Electrical Services within the ministry. His work in that role touched directly on the state’s infrastructure challenges — a portfolio that mirrored the national concerns he would later be tasked to address as a federal minister. He retired from civil service in 2002.
After retirement, Mamman transitioned into business and later politics. His engineering background and experience in state government made him a candidate the Buhari administration viewed as technically suited for the power sector. On 21 August 2019, he was sworn in as Minister of Power after being nominated by President Buhari and confirmed by the Senate.
His tenure as minister lasted just over two years. On 1 September 2021, he was removed from office during a cabinet reshuffle and replaced by Abubakar Aliyu, the then-Minister of State for Works and Housing.
Nigeria’s Power Sector and Mamman’s Mandate
When Saleh Mamman took office in 2019, Nigeria’s power sector was — and remains — one of the country’s most persistent crises. More than 40 percent of Nigerians have no access to grid electricity, according to the World Bank. Frequent blackouts, an aging grid, and inadequate generation capacity have long hampered the country’s economic growth and quality of life.
Mamman was appointed specifically to drive progress on this front, including overseeing flagship projects like the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects — two of the most significant energy infrastructure investments in Nigeria’s recent history. These projects were central to government promises of expanded electricity access.
Instead, the funds allocated to those projects would become the foundation of the corruption charges that defined his post-ministerial life.
Corruption Trial and 75-Year Sentence
In May 2023, the EFCC arrested Saleh Mamman on allegations of money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. On 11 July 2024, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a 12-count charge. The charges involved the alleged embezzlement of approximately ₦33,804,830,503.73 — funds linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects. Investigators alleged that the money was diverted through Bureau de Change operators and shell companies.
During his arraignment, Mamman pleaded not guilty. He reportedly collapsed in court and was subsequently granted bail at ₦10 billion with strict conditions. The trial proceeded even as Mamman was reportedly absent during portions of the proceedings.
On 14 May 2026, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court delivered a landmark verdict, convicting Mamman on all 12 counts and sentencing him to 75 years in prison. The sentence was handed down in absentia — Mamman was not present in court. The court also ordered the forfeiture of four properties in Abuja linked to him, as well as various foreign currencies recovered during the investigation. He was further directed to refund the outstanding balance of approximately ₦22 billion.
Justice Omotosho did not hold back in his remarks: “Rather than creating a legacy to tackle the epileptic power supply in the country, the defendant was living large at the expense of ordinary citizens. Little wonder that Nigerians have remained in darkness till today.”
Mamman holds the distinction of being the first minister who served under former President Buhari — widely praised for his anti-corruption stance — to be jailed for corruption.
Political Ambitions and the 2027 Governorship
In a development that drew widespread public attention, reports emerged just days before his conviction that Mamman had picked up nomination forms to contest the governorship of Taraba State in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, running on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The timing of his conviction — delivered shortly after those reports — added a sharp irony to an already dramatic legal saga.
He had previously expressed concern over Taraba State’s lagging infrastructure and governance, stating publicly that the state was underdeveloped compared to others created at the same time. His political aspirations, however, came to an abrupt end with the court’s verdict.
Personal Life
Saleh Mamman is known to keep a deliberately private personal life. He is believed to be married with children, though details about his family have not been made public. Throughout his career in both civil service and federal government, he maintained a relatively low profile on personal matters, with his public image shaped almost entirely by his professional roles.
Final Thoughts
Saleh Mamman’s story is one of sharp contrasts — a career that began in a technical school classroom in Mubi and ended in a federal courtroom in Abuja. He rose from a state civil servant to one of the most powerful ministerial positions in Nigeria’s federal government, only to become the subject of one of the country’s most consequential corruption convictions.
The 75-year sentence represents more than a legal outcome. For millions of Nigerians who have endured decades of power outages and infrastructure neglect, it carries a heavy symbolic weight. The funds Mamman was convicted of stealing were earmarked to bring electricity to homes, hospitals, and businesses — and their diversion deepens a crisis that continues to hold Nigeria back.
Whether the conviction leads to recovery of the stolen funds and genuine accountability, or fades into the background of Nigeria’s long history of unpunished financial crimes, remains to be seen. What is certain is that the name Saleh Mamman will now be inseparable from one of the darkest chapters in the story of Nigeria’s broken power sector.
Questions People Are Asking About Saleh Mamman
Who is Saleh Mamman?
Saleh Mamman, formally Mamman Kwagyang Saleh, is a Nigerian engineer and politician who served as Minister of Power from August 2019 to September 2021. He was appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari and is from Taraba State.
Why was Saleh Mamman sentenced to 75 years in prison?
He was convicted on 12 counts of money laundering and corruption by a Federal High Court in Abuja in May 2026. The charges involved the alleged diversion of approximately ₦33.8 billion meant for the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Projects.
Was Saleh Mamman present at his sentencing?
No. Mamman was sentenced in absentia. The court proceeded with the verdict after the defence’s explanations for his absence were deemed unsatisfactory by the presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho.
What happened to the funds Mamman was convicted of stealing?
The court ordered the forfeiture of properties and foreign currencies linked to Mamman, and directed him to refund the outstanding balance of approximately ₦22 billion. The recovered assets were directed to be returned to the Federal Government.
What was Saleh Mamman’s educational background?
He holds an HND in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kaduna Polytechnic (1988) and an MBA from Bayero University, Kano (2015).
Was Saleh Mamman planning to run for governor?
Yes. Just days before his conviction, reports confirmed that Mamman had obtained nomination forms to contest the Taraba State governorship on the APC platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
