A Nigerian high court in Abuja has sentenced former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years in prison after convicting him on multiple counts of money laundering involving 33.8 billion naira ($24.7 million).

The court found Mamman guilty on 12 charges tied to the diversion of public funds meant for power infrastructure projects. Prosecutors said he used private companies to channel money from government-funded electricity projects.

The sentence, delivered on Wednesday, was issued in absentia. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Mamman had been “out of circulation” and “without trace” since his conviction last week. An arrest warrant was issued earlier by the Federal High Court in Abuja as authorities moved to secure his custody.

Mamman, who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2021, was also ordered to refund 22 billion naira ($16 million) to the state.

He has not publicly responded to the judgment. However, weeks before sentencing, he had announced intentions to contest the 2027 governorship election in Taraba State under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that drew attention amid his ongoing trial.

His tenure as power minister came during a period when the Buhari administration repeatedly pledged to resolve Nigeria’s long-running electricity crisis. He was later removed in a cabinet reshuffle described at the time as part of an “independent and critical self-review.”

The case is part of a broader anti-corruption push led by the EFCC, which has also pursued other former officials, including former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami and former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq. Both have denied wrongdoing in separate investigations.

Mamman’s conviction has reignited public frustration over Nigeria’s persistent power shortages. Despite its status as one of Africa’s largest energy producers, the country continues to face chronic electricity failures, forcing widespread reliance on generators amid rising fuel costs.

The ruling is being seen as one of the most consequential corruption judgments in recent years, underscoring the EFCC’s intensified scrutiny of former senior officials, even as questions persist over enforcement and political accountability.