Court orders forfeiture of ex-power minister Saleh Mamman’s Abuja, Kaduna assets

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the forfeiture of five properties linked to Saleh Mamman, former Minister of Power, in a move to recover assets tied to the N22 billion the court found he diverted while in office.

Justice James Omotosho made the order on Thursday while ruling on an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), months after convicting Mamman over a N33.8 billion corruption case and sentencing him to 75 years’ imprisonment.

The assets include Walijam Apartments on Lobito Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja; Bloom Luxury Suites on Amana Crescent in Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; two mansions on Misratah Street in Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A Plaza on Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The court granted a final forfeiture order for Walijam Apartments after finding that the EFCC had established during the criminal trial that the property was acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Omotosho, however, ordered the interim forfeiture of the remaining four properties, saying the anti-graft agency had not yet conclusively proved Mamman’s ownership or beneficial interest in the assets.

He directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in a national newspaper within seven days to enable any individual or organisation claiming ownership of the properties to appear before the court and show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The properties under interim forfeiture are Bloom Luxury Suites Nigeria Limited at 5 Amana Crescent, New Estate, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna State; residential buildings at 11 and 13 Misratah Street, Wuse 2, Abuja; and A.U.A Plaza at Plot 734 Kade Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.

The judge also rejected an argument by Mamman’s counsel, Femi Atteh, that the court had become functus officio, meaning it no longer had jurisdiction to entertain further applications, after delivering judgment in the criminal case.

According to Justice Omotosho, Section 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act empowers a court to make restitution and forfeiture orders after securing a conviction.

EFCC counsel Abba Mohammed had argued that the court retained the legal authority to determine the forfeiture application despite the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.

In explaining the ruling, Justice Omotosho said the court found that the prosecution proved Mamman diverted N22 billion, lower than the N33.8 billion contained in the original charges.

He added that the EFCC had recovered less than N2 billion from the proceeds of the crime despite earlier forfeiture orders, highlighting the need for continued asset recovery.

“Of the N22 billion which the court said the prosecution proved that the ex-minister diverted, the EFCC has only been able to recover less than N2 billion after the earlier forfeiture,” Omotosho said.

The latest ruling forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to trace, seize and recover assets linked to corruption, particularly in high-profile public sector cases.