EFCC logo and former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday brought a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, to face a revised seven-count charge related to alleged misconduct in the awarding of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station contract.
According to the EFCC, the charges against Agunloye include “disobedience to a presidential directive, forgery, and receiving gratification.”
During the hearing, prosecution counsel M.K. Hussain, representing Abba Muhammed, SAN, confirmed readiness to proceed with the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness (PW3) and noted that a second amended charge had been filed.
Hussain requested that Agunloye be allowed to enter a plea on the updated charges.
Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, raised no objections to the plea on the amended charges.
The charges were read to Agunloye, who pleaded “not guilty” to all counts.
The EFCC alleges that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye “knowingly disobeyed” a presidential directive issued during the Federal Executive Council meeting on May 21, 2003, pursuant to Section 5(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
The prosecution claims Agunloye proceeded to sign a letter to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL), granting approval for the construction of the 3,960-megawatt Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.
Further allegations state that Agunloye, on the same date, conspired with Leno Adesanya of SPTCL, who is currently at large, to commit forgery by producing a letter titled, “ _Construction of 3,960 megawatts Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station on a build, operate and transfer basis.”_
The EFCC also accuses Agunloye of receiving multiple payments totaling N5.212 million in 2019 from SPTCL and Adesanya through Jide Abiodun Sotirin into his Guaranty Trust Bank account, as gratification for facilitating the federal government’s approval of the project.
Agunloye has consistently denied the allegations leveled against him by the anti-graft agency. Due to the absence of the third prosecution witness, Umar Hussein Babangida, Hussain requested the court to reschedule the previously set hearing dates of September 22 and 25.
Following agreement between both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to October 9 for the cross-examination of PW3.
