The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has revealed how operatives of the commission tracked and arrested former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, in Kaduna State following his conviction over a multi-billion-naira fraud case.
Olukoyede disclosed on Tuesday during a media briefing at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, that the former minister was arrested in Rigasa, a densely populated community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where he was allegedly being shielded by accomplices.
According to the EFCC boss, investigations showed that Mamman had remained under protection while authorities searched for him after legal proceedings linked to the diversion and laundering of public funds during his time in office.
“We discovered that he was actually being protected all this time. It is a crime to protect or give shelter to a convicted person or fugitive,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC chairman said two other individuals were arrested, alongside the former minister for allegedly assisting him and helping him evade arrest.
Mamman was recently convicted in connection with the alleged laundering of about ₦33.8 billion linked to contracts and financial transactions carried out while he served as minister of power.
The case has been described as one of the biggest corruption convictions secured by the anti-graft agency in recent years.
Olukoyede further disclosed that the commission is still tracing additional assets suspected to belong to the former minister, noting that investigators had recently uncovered more properties linked to him.
“As I am talking to you, investigations are still ongoing with respect to other properties that we suspect the man owns. Just a few days ago, we discovered another one,” he said.
He explained that although some properties had already been included in charges before the court, the commission would continue efforts to identify and recover additional assets believed to have been acquired with illicit funds.
Read also:
- Court issues fresh arrest warrant against ex-power minister Saleh Mamman
- Court convicts ex-power minister Saleh Mamman over N33.8bn fraud
- Alleged N33.8bn Fraud: Witness testifies against former Power Minister Saleh Mamman
The EFCC chairman also stressed the need for tighter monitoring of high-profile corruption suspects undergoing prosecution, warning that Nigeria could face serious challenges if such individuals escape to countries without extradition agreements.
“We are lucky to have found him here. If he had travelled to countries without Interpol agreements, it would have been difficult to bring him back,” Olukoyede noted.
He added that the EFCC would strengthen collaboration with the courts and other security agencies to ensure defendants facing corruption charges remain under proper surveillance throughout their trials.
“For every high-profile corruption case, we must be able to put defendants under surveillance because it is not in the interest of the country for anyone undergoing criminal prosecution to escape jurisdiction,” he added.
