Nigeria: Former energy minister arrested after dramatic 75-year prison sentence

Nigerian authorities have announced the arrest of former Energy Minister Saleh Mamman, just days after he was sentenced in absentia to 75 years in prison for corruption and money laundering. This case is considered one of the most significant anti-corruption cases in Nigeria in recent years.

According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former minister had been missing since the verdict handed down on May 7 by a Nigerian court. He was finally arrested overnight in the northern city of Kaduna after several days of searching.

The chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, stated that Saleh Mamman had been "protected" during his escape. Two other suspects were also arrested for harboring him, while an investigation was launched into the property where the former minister was found.

Nigerian courts have found Saleh Mamman guilty on 12 counts of corruption and money laundering involving 33,8 billion naira, or approximately $24,65 million. The charges relate to irregularities surrounding two state-funded hydroelectric projects.

The court handed down several separate sentences, including ten seven-year prison terms, as well as two other sentences of three and two years. Because the sentences were cumulative, the total prison term reached 75 years.

This arrest is seen as a rare event in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, where prosecutions of high-ranking political officials seldom result in final convictions. Anti-corruption organizations regularly denounce the slow pace of legal proceedings and the impunity enjoyed by some influential figures.

Nigerian authorities now hope that this case will strengthen the credibility of judicial institutions and the fight against corruption in Africa's most populous country.