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Alleged $6bn fraud: Agunloye’s objection compel EFCC to submit documents
An objection raised by the former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye, to the oral evidence of prosecution witness in his ongoing trial, on Monday, forced the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to tender documentary evidence.
The EFCC is prosecuting the former minister before an Abuja High Court over alleged $6 billion infractions in the award of contract for construction of Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba.
Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge of forgery, disobeying presidential directive and gratification before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT High Court, sitting at Apo.
“In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded contract for the Mambilla project in May 22, 2003 to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.
The commission, also among others, alleged that the former minister received the total of N5.212 million from SPTCL Ltd and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotirin, which was paid into his Guaranty Trust Bank account.
The amount, the commission said was paid to the defendant, for obtaining the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambilla power project in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.”
The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
At the resumed hearing on the matter,the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police on secondment to EFCC from the Nigeria Police Force, testified.
He narrated how on Oct. 6, 2021, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice petitioned the anti-graft agency and requested an investigation into the May 22, 2003 approval to SPTCL Ltd for the construction of the Mambilla project.
Babangida, who was led in his evidence by prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed SAN, said that the petition was assigned to the special committee he headed to investigate.
He said his team wrote to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), requesting for documents on incorporation of SPTCL Ltd, which revealed that the company was incorporated in 2001 with two directors, Laitan Adesanya and Ibironke Adesanya.
He explained that between 2003 and 2020, the company’s share capital rose from 1,250,000 to 10 million ordinary shares.
He added that Laitan Adesanya held the major shares of 8,725,000 and was the Managing Director/CEO of the company.
The PW3 further narrated to the court that his team wrote to the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel, requesting for records of bidding process and evaluation.
He also added how his team requested for recommendation and approval for the award of the Mambilla power project, which he said the team received from the ministry.
The ACP informed the court that part of the documents received from the ministry was a letter dated April 7, 2003, written by the then minister, Dr Agunloye.
“The letter was addressed to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR.
” The letter reminded the President of the earlier approval by the President for the Ministry of Power and Steel to conduct further negotiations between the ministry and Tafag Nigeria Ltd and Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd.
“The letter further informed Mr President that after negotiations with the companies, the proposal and presentations by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd for the construction of the Mambilla Hydropower Station, on built, operate and transfer basis, was found to be more superior and acceptable.”
The PW3 added that Obasanjo later endorsed the letter to then minister, “stating no objection but bring memo to council with comparison to coal fired thermal of 4,000 megawatt to 5,000 megawatts.”
Babagida narrated how his team of investigators wrote and received response from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Cabinet Affairs Office.
Also, when PW3 was questioned on the meeting of the Federal Executive Council of May 21, 2003, then, Counsel to Agunloye, Mr Adeola Adedipe SAN, objected to further testimony by Babangida
According to Adedipe, the PW3’s evidence violated Section 128(1) of the Evidence Act, submitting that the witness should not continue to give oral evidence on what had been documented.
Adedipe told the court that the document was not before the court yet, adding that the prosecution could bring it and demonstrate same.
The prosecution counsel while responding to the objection, however, said there was nothing in Section 128(1) of the Evidence Act which precluded an investigator from giving evidence of what he saw, heard or generated in the course of his investigation.
The defence’s objection was upheld by the court following which the prosecution tendered the documents.
The documents ncluded the petition by the Attorney-General of the Federation; letters of investigation activities to to both CAC and SGF, among others.
The documents were subsequently admitted and marked as exhibits by the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned until April 30 for continuation of hearing.
(NAN)
The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has taken delivery of five new helicopters as the Federal Government steps up efforts to modernise the country’s airpower capabilities and strengthen military operations against security threats.
The platforms comprise three AW-109 Trekker B helicopters manufactured by Leonardo Helicopters of Italy and two H-125 helicopters manufactured by Airbus Helicopters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, the NAF said the three AW-109s, which are part of 10 recently acquired by the Federal Government, were received in Lagos on September 15, 2026, while the remaining seven are expected to be delivered before the end of the year. The two H-125 helicopters had been delivered earlier.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, said the new helicopters would increase aircraft availability and improve the NAF’s ability to support ongoing military operations.
“The arrival of these five helicopters provides greater flexibility in the employment of airpower in support of ground troops in ongoing operations,” Aneke said.
He said the AW-109 Trekker B helicopters would enhance the NAF’s capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, close air support, armed escort, combat search and rescue, and other joint operations.
Aneke added that the H-125 helicopters would provide light helicopter support for various operational requirements.
The new platforms are undergoing post-delivery assembly and technical and crew-readiness processes ahead of their induction and operationalisation.
Aneke said the increased rotary-wing capacity would strengthen support for joint forces conducting operations against terrorism, kidnapping and banditry.
He said the NAF would also prioritise maintenance and logistics support to ensure the new aircraft remain available for operations.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bid for a second term in office, declaring that there will be “no vacancy” in the Presidential Villa, Abuja for the next four or five years.
Oba Akiolu gave the support when the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, led members of the council on a courtesy visit to his palace in Lagos on Monday.
The monarch urged politicians to approach the 2027 General Elections with responsibility and ensure that the electoral process is peaceful and serves the interests of Nigerians.
Oba Akiolu cautioned members of the campaign council against actions capable of undermining the peace and stability of the country, even as he urged them to uphold honesty and shun the Machiavellian principle that the end justifies the means.
Speaking, the Director-General of the Campaign Council, Yari, said the delegation was in Lagos to seek the monarch’s blessings, prayers and counsel as the council begins its nationwide campaign activities ahead of the 2027 polls.
Yari said the APC believed President Tinubu deserved a second term to consolidate his administration’s efforts in the areas of the economy, security and infrastructure.
The Campaign D-G, while acknowledging the economic difficulties facing Nigerians, appealed for continued support for the president, saying APC leaders from the North would work to secure strong backing for Tinubu’s re-election across the region.
Receiving the delegation, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the visit as significant, noting that the council had made the Oba’s palace one of its early stops following its engagement with the Sokoto Caliphate.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the visit underscored Lagos’ strategic importance to Nigeria’s political process, describing the state as the country’s commercial and economic nerve centre as well as a major political hub.
The visit was attended by Lagos APC leaders, local government chairmen, members of the National Assembly, state lawmakers and other party stakeholders.
Former Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Alhaji Mohammed Mani, has been endorsed as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in Niger state
Alhaji Mani replaces Abubakar Sulaiman, who was elected at the PDP primary last May.
Sulaiman voluntarily withdrawn from the position in the interest of the peace unity and progress of the party.
The endorsement of the former FIRS boss for the governorship contest was made by PDP stakeholders from across the state at the state party secretariat.
Addressing the stakeholders, Alhaji Mani promised to deliver the state to the PDP in next year’s election and solicited the support of party faithful for the realisation of the objective.
The new PDP candidate had earlier contested for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress(APC) which Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago got by “ consensus.”
He was among the APC aspirants who lost in the primary election and recently defected to the PDP.
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