The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract resumed on Thursday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, with a prosecution witness affirming the authenticity of a key government document tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The sixth prosecution witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, told the court that there was no other extract of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on May 21, 2003, apart from the version marked Exhibit EFCC 3K, which he certified and which has already been admitted in evidence.
Iyakwari, a former Assistant Director (Legal) in the Federal Ministry of Justice who now serves as an Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, made the assertion while being cross-examined by counsel to Agunloye, Adeola Adedipe, SAN.
Agunloye is facing an amended seven-count charge filed by the EFCC, bordering on official corruption and the alleged irregular award of the Mambilla Power Project contract valued at $6 billion to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
During proceedings, defence counsel sought to question the witness on another document identified as Exhibit EFCC 3D. However, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, objected, arguing that the witness could not be cross-examined on a document he neither authored nor tendered before the court.
Mohammed said the objection was based on judicial authorities, including the Supreme Court decision in Buhari v. INEC, maintaining that the witness was not competent to testify on the document in question.
Thursday’s sitting concluded the cross-examination of the witness before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, who subsequently adjourned the case until July 2, 2026, for further hearing.
The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, located in Taraba State, is Nigeria’s largest proposed hydroelectric power scheme, with an estimated generation capacity of over 3,000 megawatts. The project has faced years of delays, contractual disputes and legal challenges.
The EFCC alleges that Agunloye, while serving as Minister of Power in 2003, awarded the contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited without the approval of the Federal Executive Council. The former minister has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
