Saleh Mamman, ex-power minister, declared wanted as court revokes bail

A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has revoked the bail granted to Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for the continuation of his trial over an alleged N31 billion fraud.

Justice Maryann Anineh handed down the ruling, on Monday, after the former minister was absent during proceedings in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involving allegations of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and intent to defraud to the tune of N31,070,541,349.64.

Mamman, alongside seven others, is currently facing a nine-count charge before the court.

His absence, however, drew sharp reactions from the prosecution, particularly as it came just days after another court convicted him in a separate corruption case.

The former minister had reportedly gone missing since May 7, 2026, when James Omotosho, Justice of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, convicted him on all 12 counts in a separate money laundering trial involving N33.8 billion.

At Monday’s proceedings, Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution counsel, told the court that Mamman’s continued absence had become “noticeable and obvious,” adding that neither the defendant nor his legal team had provided any explanation for his whereabouts.

Oyedepo further informed the court that Mamman was also absent during the delivery of judgment in the Federal High Court case where he was convicted.

Responding on behalf of the defendant, Femi Atteh, Mamman’s counsel, argued that it was the responsibility of the prosecution to produce the former minister in court, especially following the earlier bench warrant issued after his conviction by Justice Omotosho.

But the prosecution strongly opposed the argument, insisting that it had no duty to account for the whereabouts of a defendant represented by counsel.

“My lord, I do not hold the brief of the first defendant, so it is not my duty to inform the court of the whereabouts of his client,” Oyedepo argued.

He told the court that Mamman had deliberately absented himself from trial without justification and urged Anineh to revoke his bail, issue a fresh bench warrant for his arrest and summon his surety to appear before the court on the next adjourned date.

Oyedepo also requested that the matter proceed despite the defendant’s absence, relying on Section 352(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

In her ruling, Anineh granted all the prosecution’s applications.

The judge revoked Mamman’s bail, issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ruled that the trial would continue in his absence in line with the provisions of the ACJA 2015.

The matter was subsequently adjourned until May 14, 2026, for continuation of trial proceedings.