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Court Adjourns Agunloye Trial as EFCC Pushes to Amend Charges in Mambilla Power Project Case
The High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday briefly adjourned proceedings in the ongoing trial of Dr. Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power accused of accepting bribes connected to the long-disputed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is seeking to amend charges in a case that could influence Nigeria’s standing in an international arbitration battle with Sunrise Power Company.
The session began at 9:37 a.m., with the court acknowledging the EFCC’s request to adjust its accusations against Dr. Agunloye, originally alleging that he received N5 million in retroactive bribes in 2019 from Sunrise Power.
The antigraft agency’s move to revise its allegations, now claiming that the bribes were funneled through intermediaries may not be unconnected with the fact that previous testimonies failed to establish evidence of direct payments.
It would be recalled that on 21 October 2024, the prosecution (EFCC) sought to amend its charges that “Agunloye collected (retroactive) bribes, totalling N5m, in three instalments over a period of five months, from Sunrise Power Company between August and December 2019 for a contract awarded in 2003”.
Between 2004 and 2007, the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo promulgated that electricity power projects should no longer be by BOT contract but by outright procurement contract.
The then President went ahead and secured a huge grant of $16 billion from the Nigeria’s Excess Crude Oil Funds, moved all power projects in Nigeria from the Ministry of Power to the Presidency, and split the Mambilla power project into component parts.
The president then started to re-award the component parts as procurement contracts.
Between 2008 and 2015, the Presidency, under Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua, cancelled the component Mambilla contracts awarded by President Obasanjo and re-awarded the Mambilla Project back to Messrs, Sunrise Power Company.
However, between 2016 and 2019, under General Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government again re-awarded the same Mambilla project to yet another contractor.
It is the recurring contract awards and re-awards that led Messrs Sunrise and FGN to the International Arbitration Panel in Paris, France, wherein the Federal Government of Nigeria resorted to an odious criminalisation strategy to evade being penalised for any wrongdoings.
During the Nigerian trial of the former Minister Agunloye, EFCC produced its first prosecution witness in June 2024 who failed during cross examination to establish that Agunloye collected money from Sunrise Power Company as stated in Charges 5, 6 and 7 of the seven Charges levelled against the former Minister.
Subsequent to this demolition of EFCC allegations, the Prosecutor then sought to amend the bribery charges to “receiving bribes from Mr. Jide Sotirin on behalf of Mr Leno Adesanya on behalf of Sunrise Power Company”.
Monday’s brief court session started at 9:37 a.m., with the judge noting that the defense had just received new filings from the prosecution.
The judge adjourned the case to November 14, 2024, when both sides will formally present their positions on the amended charges.
The ruling on this amendment could have far-reaching implications for both the trial and Nigeria’s international liabilities.
The hearing concluded at 9:45 a.m., marking a short yet significant development in one of Nigeria’s most closely watched cases.
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Christmas in Naija: How We Dey Manage Celebrate Despite Wahala
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Edo To Get First Lady As Gov Okpebholo Reportedly Set To Quit Bachelorhood
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
December 24, (THEWILL) – Barring any last minute change of heart, the governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, is allegedly set to marry his side chick, a California-based lady, Jennifer, the daughter of Sharon Ogaga, who is a native of Auchi and is believed to be in her 30s.
THEWILL reports that the marriage is scheduled to be held in Potter Ranch, California, in January 2024, while Aso ebi for the event is being distributed to friends of the bride for a fee around America, Europe and Africa, the letter of invitation only identifies Jennifer, but does not mention the identity of the husband-to-be, in what appears to be a deliberate attempt to mask governor Okpebolo’s identity and shield him from the controversial move.
What is weird is that Jennifer and her family are being coy with the identity of the man she is marrying.
One of THEWILL’s sources, however, has a direct confirmation that Governor Okpebholo is the “husband-in-waiting.”
“They are only telling people that Jennifer is getting married. They are not revealing the identity of the man. It is obvious they are hiding something, probably they don’t want distractions to taint the ceremony,” one of the sources said.
THEWILL does not know the status of Okpebholo’s current marriage to Blessing Okpabi Okpebholo, the mother of his two daughters, who was a no-show during his inauguration as governor.
It, however, appears that their marriage is over because it is illegal to be married to more than one person under the laws of the United States.
According to one of our sources, Senator Adams Oshiomhole allegedly hooked Jennifer up with the governor.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Osiobughie Okhuemoi, said he was unaware of the development when THEWILL contacted him for comments a few days ago.
THE WILL
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WATCH moment Tinubu hails FCT minister for his doggedness, sterling performance
President Bola Tinubu has described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, minister Nyesom Wike as a performing and dogged technocrat.
Naijablitznews reports Tinubu made this assertion during his maiden presidential chat on Monday.
The president rounded up by saying “I doff my hat for the performing minister.
Watch clip below:
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