$6bn Mambilla Saga: EFCC Re-Arraigns Olu Agunloye For Forgery – Disobedience

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

Gatekeepers News reports that EFCC first arraigned Agunloye on January 11, 2024, and was granted N50 million in bail.

Agunloye was re-arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying presidential directive and gratification.

The EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded a $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval, and cash backing.

It added that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.

Agunloye pleaded not guilty to the charges 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.

The witness who gave his evidence-in-chief on Sept 23, 2024, said he doesn’t have the permission of his present employer, Jaiz Bank to provide evidence to the court.

He added that 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.

When asked if he presented his identification card to the court to show that he is a staff member of Jaiz Bank, Agunbiade said he didn’t do that.

Jude Onwugbuese, the presiding judge then adjourned further hearing until February 24.