Former Minister of Power, Mr. Sale Mamman has been arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with an alleged N22 billion fraud.
Mamman, who was a minister between 2019 and 2021, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday and is being detained at the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Abuja, sources told TheCable.
The arrest is connected to investigations into alleged corruption in the execution of some power projects.
Mamman is accused of conspiring with staff of the ministry in charge of the accounts of the Zungeru and Mambilla Hydro Electric Power projects to divert N22 billion and share among themselves.
The investigations uncovered properties in Nigeria and overseas allegedly linked to the suspects, while millions of naira and dollars have reportedly been recovered.
On 1st September 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari relieved Mamman and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono of their appointment.
In 2020, while still serving, Mamman alleged that there was a cabal in his ministry denying Nigerians electricity.
He was reacting to the criticism which trailed his suspension of some top officials in the ministry.
Mamman had suspended the former Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Damilola Ogunbiyi; and Managing Director of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc, Marilyn Amobi pending an investigation into allegations levelled against them.
However, some critics accused him of ethnic bias.
Credit: TheCable
