The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
re-arraigned Olu Agunloye, a former minister of power and steel, over alleged
infractions in the award of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station contract.
Agunloye was rearraigned on Thursday before Jude
Onwuegbuzie, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court, Apo, on an
amended seven-count charge, bordering on disobeying presidential directives,
gratification and forgery.
When the matter was called, M. K. Hussain, who represented
Abba Muhammed, counsel to the EFCC, informed the court that he was ready for
the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness.
He also informed the court that the prosecution had filed a
second amended charge and requested that the defendant be allowed to enter a
plea.
Adeola Adedipe, the defendant’s counsel, did not oppose the
application, and the amended charge was read to Agunloye, who entered a “not
guilty” plea.
In the amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC
alleged that Agunloye on May 22, 2003, knowingly disobeyed the directive of the
president made at the federal executive council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2023,
by approving a contract with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited
(SPTCL) for the construction of the 3,960 MW Mambila Hydroelectric Power
Station, an act said to be contrary to section 123 of the penal code.
The prosecution further alleged that the former minister
signed a letter addressed to SPTCL conveying the “approval of the Government of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960-megawatt
Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station”.
Agunloye was accused of conspiring with Leno Adesanya of
Sunrise Power (who is at large) of using a false document in May 2003 to induce
the federal government into a contract for the 3,960 MW Mambilla Hydroelectric
Power Station, contrary to section 366 and punishable under section 364 of the
penal code.
The EFCC also alleged that the former minister received
N5.212 million from SPTCL and Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise Power, through
Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.
After his not-guilty plea, Hussain informed the court that
Umar Hussein Babangida, the third prosecution witness, was not present for
cross-examination.
He pleaded with the court to vacate the earlier dates of
September 22 and 25 fixed for hearing the case.
Based on the parties’ agreement, the judge adjourned the
matter to October 9 for cross-examination of the third prosecution witness
(PW3).
Earlier in February 2025, the EFCC had re-arraigned the
former minister on a seven-count amended charge.
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