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.
This follows charges related to forgery, disobedience of presidential directives, and gratification tied to the controversial $6 billion Mambilla Hydropower project.
Agunloye had initially been arraigned on January 11, 2024, with the EFCC granting him bail set at N50 million. During Monday’s court session, he faced a seven-count charge involving the 2003 award of the Mambilla contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL). The EFCC alleges that Agunloye awarded the contract without budgetary provision, approval, or necessary financial backing.
Further allegations include that Agunloye received N5.212 million from SPTCL and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, through intermediary Jide Abiodun Sotinrin. Agunloye, however, pleaded not guilty to all seven charges when they were read to him in court.
In the ongoing trial, Adewale Agunbiade, a former compliance officer at Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) and the second prosecution witness, continued his testimony. Agunbiade, who had provided evidence-in-chief on September 23, 2024, claimed that he was not authorized by his current employer, Jaiz Bank, to testify and stated that the EFCC had not issued him a witness summons. When asked by the defense counsel, Adeola Adedipe, if he had presented his Jaiz Bank identification to the court, Agunbiade confirmed that he had not.
After the cross-examination of Agunbiade, Jude Onwugbuese, the presiding judge, adjourned the proceedings to February 24, 2025, for further hearing.
