Nigeria ex-power minister Saleh Mamman jailed 75 years for graft

 

A Nigerian court on Wednesday sentenced former power minister Saleh Mamman to 75 years in jail for siphoning off millions of dollars from hydro-electricity projects.

Nigeria's anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said Mamman was found guilty of laundering 33.8 billion naira ($24.6 million).

Nigeria is Africa's fourth-largest economy and the continent's top oil producer, but it suffers from acute electricity shortages due to a crumbling grid and inadequate output.

More than 40 percent of Nigerians have no access to grid electricity, according to the World Bank.

Federal High Court judge Justice James Omotosho Abuja "sentenced Mamman to 75 years imprisonment" for money laundering, the EFCC said in a post on X.

Mamman, who was the energy minister between 2019 and 2021, was sentenced in absentia.

He is the first minister who served under former president Muhammadu Buhari, who was revered for his anti-corruption stance, to be jailed for graft.

Several other top officials from Buhari's government are facing trial for fraud, including a former justice minister, an ex-central bank governor and a former labor minister.

Africa News

Nigerian Tycoon Femi Otedola Acquires £53 Million London Mansion

Nigerian billionaire tycoon Femi Otedola has acquired a luxury mansion in London’s exclusive St. John’s Wood neighborhood for £53 million ($72 million), marking one of the year's most significant ultra-prime property transactions.

The Ultimate Luxury Estate

The sprawling 10-bedroom property features a massive array of elite amenities tailored for high-net-worth living:

• Wellness Center: A 40-foot indoor swimming pool alongside a fully equipped private spa.
• Entertainment Suites: A 12-seat private cinema, an executive home office, and a dedicated cigar room.
• Collector Storage: Two custom temperature-controlled wine cellars and an underground hydraulic parking lift built for four vehicles.
• Biometric Security: A high-tech panic room secured by advanced fingerprint and eye-recognition scanners.

A Growing Global Portfolio

The estate is located a short walk from Regent's Park, a district heavily favored by international diplomats and global elites. The acquisition expands Otedola’s extensive international real estate footprint, which already spans prime locations in Lagos, Dubai, and Monaco. Otedola, the chairman of Geregu Power PLC and a major shareholder in FBN Holdings, ranks among Africa's most prominent business leaders.

Bloomberg

Kidnapped priest released after 3 months in captivity

In a statement issued on 12 May, the Catholic Diocese expressed “deep gratitude to God” for the safe return of Fr Nathaniel Asuwaye after three months in captivity.

“We are pleased to inform you that Father Nathaniel is now safe and receiving the necessary medical care,” the statement read. “His condition is stable, he is in good spirits, and he thanks you for your prayers and support.”

Fr Nathaniel, parish priest of Holy Trinity Church in Karku, Kaura County of Kaduna State, was kidnapped in the early hours of 7 February when armed attackers stormed the rectory. According to reports at the time, ten parishioners were also abducted during the assault, while at least three people were killed.

Recalling the months following the abduction, the Diocese said it had continuously urged the faithful to pray for the priest’s release.

“At the end of April, we dedicated May to God through fervent prayers during our annual Marian devotions and other prayers, especially the Holy Mass,” the statement said, adding “God, who does not abandon those who bear His name and call upon Him, has heard our prayers and granted Father Nathaniel’s safe return.”

Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi, together with the priests and faithful of Kafanchan Diocese, also expressed gratitude to all who supported the Church during the difficult period, especially those who cared for the priest’s family and accompanied the community through prayer and solidarity.

“As we rejoice in this moment of answered prayers, let us remain steadfast in faith, united as one family, and supportive of one another,” the Diocese said, while encouraging the faithful to remain vigilant and compassionate toward one another.

Concern for widespread insecurity

According to Fides News Agency, no information has yet been released regarding the fate of the ten parishioners kidnapped alongside Fr Nathaniel.

The release of the priest comes amid continuing concern over the abduction of clergy and insecurity in several parts of Nigeria. Fides reported that at least two Catholic priests remain in captivity: Fr Joseph Igweagu of the Diocese of Aguleri in Anambra State, kidnapped on 12 October 2022, and Fr Emmanuel Ezema of the Diocese of Zaria in Kaduna State, abducted on 2 December 2025.

The Catholic Church in Nigeria has repeatedly appealed for stronger security measures and renewed efforts to protect human life and restore peace in communities affected by violence and criminal attacks.

Vatican News

Related story: How Viral Empathy is Being Weaponized by Nigerian Kidnappers

UN urges independent probes into deadly Nigeria, Chad air attacks

The United Nations human rights chief has demanded independent investigations into reports that separate air attacks by the Nigerian and Chadian forces in northern Nigeria killed more than 100 civilians.

“I am shocked by reports that Nigerian army airstrikes on a market in Zamfara state killed at least 100 civilians on 10 May and injured many more,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said he was also “alarmed and saddened” by the reports of high civilian casualties in attacks since Friday by Chadian jets against Boko Haram camps on remote islands in the vast marshland shared by Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

Nigeria’s military ‌has been battling “bandits” in the northwest, often describing them as “terrorists”. It has also been battling ‌an ‌armed rebellion in the northeast for 17 years.

The Nigerian military and the “bandit” gangs killed at least 100 civilians on Sunday in one of the bloodiest days in the state’s conflict against armed groups, according to Amnesty International.

Citing witnesses, Amnesty said many of those killed were women and children, and urged authorities to immediately investigate the attack on a crowded market in Tumfa village.

The bombardment has reportedly killed dozens of Nigerian fishermen working on islands under Boko Haram control, where civilians are forced to pay taxes to the armed group. Footage verified by the AFP news agency showed several fishermen with severe burns being treated at a hospital in Bosso, Niger.

“It is crucial that both Nigerian and Chadian authorities conduct prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into these disturbing incidents,” Turk said, adding that both militaries must “take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians”.

“Their military operations, including against Boko Haram and the so-called ‘Islamic State West Africa Province’ must be conducted in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” he said, referring to the ISIL (ISIS) affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP). “Civilians and civilian objects must never be the target of attack.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian military said on Wednesday ⁠that there ⁠has been no evidence of civilian casualties in attacks in the ⁠northwest Zamfara state this month, calling reports of large death tolls unverified and misleading.

“No credible, substantiated evidence of civilian casualties has been established through any official assessment or independent ⁠verification,” defence headquarters spokesman Major-General ⁠Michael Onoja said in a statement.

Onoja claimed that the strike was conducted under international humanitarian law and targeted a “confirmed high-level gathering” based on intelligence sources in a village where “several terrorists were neutralised”.

By AFP and Reuters

Related stories: Amnesty: More than 100 civilians killed in Nigerian military airstrike

3,000 Jobs Wiped Out: The Quiet Extinction of Nigeria’s Local Cable Operators

In the high-stakes battle for Nigeria’s living rooms, the local players didn’t just lose—they were erased. A recent report reveals a grim milestone in the country’s media landscape: the near-total collapse of indigenous cable operators, a disaster that has claimed over 3,000 jobs and left a once-promising sector in ruins.

What was supposed to be a thriving ecosystem of local broadcasters has become a graveyard of SMEs, leaving behind a monopoly that critics say is strangling the industry.


The Survival of One, the Fall of Twenty

While the giants like DStv and StarTimes continue to broadcast, the local "retailer" class has been decimated. Out of the dozens of indigenous operators that once dotted the map, only Metro Digital Limited, based in Port Harcourt, remains standing.

According to Dr. Ifeanyi Osuji of Metro Digital, the fallout is staggering. Behind the "no signal" screens are 20 collapsed companies and more than 3,000 families who have lost their primary source of income. This isn't just about television; it’s about a specialized workforce—technicians, installers, and agents—who have been forced into unemployment.

The Weaponization of Exclusivity

The core of the crisis lies in content exclusivity. Local operators act as retailers, redistributing high-demand content (particularly European football) to make their services viable.

Nigeria actually has laws designed to prevent this. The Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Code was amended specifically to:

. Outlaw exclusive rights that shut out smaller players.

. Mandate "must-share" content policies at regulated prices.

However, the reality on the ground has been a masterclass in regulatory toothlessness. Despite an Appeal Court ruling ordering a "roundtable" to fix the pricing and access issues, negotiations reached a dead end. Local operators claim they even offered to pay the legal fees to access content, but were met with a closed door.


Regulatory Paralysis

The tragedy of this "industrial wipeout" is that it happened in plain sight of the law. Operators express a deep sense of betrayal, noting that while the NBC Code exists to protect local interests, enforcement has been non-existent.

More frustrating for these businesses is the role of law enforcement. Instead of protecting indigenous companies trying to exercise their rights under the NBC Code, local operators claim that security agencies have often been used to enforce the dominance of foreign-owned giants.


The Canal+ Wildcard

As the dust settles, the industry is looking toward a new horizon: the acquisition of MultiChoice by the French media powerhouse Canal+.

For the survivors, this is a moment of desperate hope. The plea from the local sector is simple: don’t double down on the monopolistic tactics of the past. There is a slim window for the new owners to foster a "live and let live" ecosystem where local retailers can coexist with international platforms.

The Verdict: The loss of 3,000 jobs is more than a statistic; it is a symptom of a broken regulatory system. Until "Must-Share" laws are backed by genuine enforcement, the indigenous cable operator may soon become a relic of history.

Business Day