The FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has issued a fresh warrant for the arrest of former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, after he failed to appear for proceedings in an ongoing ₦31 billion fraud trial involving him and six co-defendants.
Trial judge, Maryann Anenih, issued the order on Monday after the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court to continue the trial in Mamman’s absence.
“Application granted to proceed without the first defendant and application for bench warrant granted,” the judge ruled before adjourning the matter until Thursday.
The latest order is the second arrest warrant issued against Mamman within days.
On May 7, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for judgment in a separate money laundering case involving the diversion of ₦33.8bn meant for the Zungeru and Mambilla hydroelectric power projects.
Mamman was convicted on 12 counts in that case, while the court fixed May 13 for sentencing.
Counsel to the former minister, Femi Atteh, told the court that he had no knowledge of his client’s whereabouts.
He noted that the prosecution had previously described Mamman as “the state’s property” following the earlier arrest order by the Federal High Court.
Oyedepo confirmed during proceedings that the first arrest warrant had yet to be executed.
“The defendant without reasonable justification absconded from trial,” the prosecutor stated, adding that Mamman “is still in hiding.”
In the ongoing FCT High Court matter, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Mamman and seven others with nine counts bordering on conspiracy, false pretence and intent to defraud.
The charges involve the alleged diversion of ₦31bn linked to the Mambilla Power Project.
The co-defendants, who were all present in court on Monday, had pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment in October 2025.
During the trial, EFCC witnesses tendered bank account documents linked to several companies allegedly used to move the funds.
The companies include Spinhills Biz International Limited, Silverline Ocean Ventures Limited, Beaver Builders Limited, Gurupche Business Enterprise, Breathable Investment Limited, First-Class Construction Project Limited, Royal Perimeter Ventures, Dannywest Limited, Dorino Bright Limited and Sipikin Global Ventures Limited.
Mamman served as Minister of Power under former President Muhammadu Buhari between 2019 and 2021.
He recently declared interest in the 2027 governorship election in Taraba State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
