Nigeria's anti-corruption agency has arrested former Power Minister Saleh Mamman a week after he was sentenced to 75 years in jail on corruption charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained Mamman during the early hours of Tuesday in the northern Kaduna state after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Authorities revealed that Mamman had gone into hiding following his conviction by a court in Abuja earlier this month.
Mamman was found guilty on 12 counts involving the diversion of funds intended for two hydroelectric power projects.
A court ruling indicated that prosecutors proved their case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to his sentence in absentia as he failed to appear in court.
This arrest marks a rare success in Nigeria's battle against high-level corruption. Convictions of significant officials are uncommon in the West African nation.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede emphasized that ensuring Mamman serves his sentence is critical given the serious nature of corrupt practices.
The judge in his case highlighted that at least 22 billion naira (approximately $14 million) was diverted for critical electricity projects, underscoring a gross abuse of public trust.
The former minister's sentence includes multiple prison terms running consecutively, culminating in 75 years. He is also facing separate allegations involving fraud of 31 billion naira, with an arrest warrant issued earlier this month due to his absence in related court proceedings.
Mamman served as Nigeria's power minister from 2019 to 2021, and his conviction has sparked public outrage about Nigeria's persistent electricity issues, notably as he previously promised to enhance power supply.
Despite being one of Africa's largest energy producers, Nigeria still suffers from frequent blackouts that hinder households and businesses, pushing many to rely on costly fuel generators.
