The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday sentenced a former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, to 75 years imprisonment after convicting him on 12 counts bordering on fraud and money laundering involving N33.8 billion.

Trial judge, Justice James Omotosho, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) successfully established its case against the former minister beyond reasonable doubt.The court consequently found Mamman guilty on all the counts and ordered that the sentences run consecutively, bringing the total jail term to 75 years.

Justice Omotosho further ruled that the convict would serve the prison terms without the option of fine, except on one of the counts where he was allowed an option of N10 million fine.

The EFCC had arraigned Mamman over alleged diversion and laundering of public funds earmarked for power sector projects during his tenure as minister under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The anti-graft agency accused the former minister of conspiring with others to unlawfully divert billions of naira through multiple transactions linked to government contracts and project accounts.

Mamman had pleaded not guilty to the charges at the commencement of the trial. However, the court, in its judgment, upheld the arguments of the prosecution and convicted him accordingly.