$6bn Mambilla saga: EFCC re-arraigns Olu Agunloye over ‘forgery, disobeying presidential directive’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Olu Agunloye, the former minister of power and steel, before a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in the Apo area of Abuja.

Agunloye was first arraigned on January 11, 2024, by the EFCC and was granted N50 million in bail.

At the court session on Monday, the former minister was re-arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying presidential directives, and gratification.

The EFCC is prosecuting Agunloye over a $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract.

The EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded the contract for the Mambilla project on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing.

The commission also alleged that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.

The former minister pleaded not guilty to the seven-count amended charge when read to him in the court.

Adewale Agunbiade, a former compliance officer with Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), who is the second prosecution witness in the case, was called to continue his testimony.

Under cross-examination by Adeola Adedipe, counsel to the former minister, the witness who gave his evidence-in-chief on Sept 23, 2024, said he does not have the permission of his present employer—Jaiz Bank—to continue giving evidence.

He also said the EFCC did not issue him with a witness summons to testify in the case.

Agunbiade told the court that when he informed EFCC operatives he no longer worked for GTB, they told him he was the one who prepared the documents related to the court proceedings.

Asked if he presented his identification card to the court to show that he is a staff member of Jaiz Bank, the witness said he did not do that.

After cross-examination of the witness, Jude Onwugbuese, the presiding judge adjourned further hearing until February 24.