FCT High Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Power Minister Saleh Mamman

The Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, following his failure to appear before the court for ongoing legal proceedings.

The order was issued on Monday by Justice Maryann Anineh, who also revoked the bail previously granted to the former minister due to his absence in court.

Mamman is currently being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside seven other defendants over an alleged N31 billion fraud case. According to court documents, the defendants are facing a nine-count charge involving conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and alleged intent to defraud.

The latest development adds to Mamman’s growing legal troubles, as he is also facing separate criminal charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The former minister served under late President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s Minister of Power from August 21, 2019, to September 1, 2021.

Earlier this month, on May 7, Mamman was convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja on all 12 counts filed against him by the EFCC in a separate case.

Delivering judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the anti-graft agency had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt, establishing the former minister’s culpability on all charges brought before the court.

Despite the conviction, Mamman was absent from court during the proceedings, a development that further complicated his legal standing.

Following the guilty verdict, the court postponed sentencing to May 13. His continued absence from court has now triggered stronger judicial action, with the FCT High Court ordering his immediate arrest and cancellation of his bail privileges.

The case has drawn significant public attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and Mamman’s previous role in Nigeria’s power sector, a ministry that has historically remained under scrutiny over infrastructure challenges, funding concerns, and project execution.

The EFCC has continued its aggressive anti-corruption drive targeting former public officials accused of financial misconduct, and Mamman’s prosecution is seen as one of the notable high-profile cases currently before Nigerian courts.

With both his conviction and the latest arrest warrant now in place, attention is expected to shift toward his sentencing and the next phase of legal proceedings in Abuja.