A former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, was yesterday re-arraigned before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo on a seven-count amended charge the amendment made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed against him.
Agunloye pleaded not guilty when the charge bordering on forgery, disobedience of a presidential order and corruption on the 3,960 megawatts (MW) Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba State, was read to him by a court official.
The prosecution alleged, among others, that the former minister received N5.212 million from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) and Leno Adesanya through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.
The money was allegedly paid into Agunloye’s Guaranty Trust Bank account for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the power station in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.
Testifying yesterday, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Adewale Agunbiade, a Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank Plc (formerly with GTBank), said he neither knew the defendant personally nor had any special interest in the case.
Agunbiade said despite having left GTBank, he was not surprised when the EFCC invited him in May 2023 to write a statement on the case.
The witness, who was cross-examined by defence lawyer Aseola Adedipe (SAN), said when he informed the EFCC that he had left GTBank, he was told that it did not matter since he prepared the documents on the court’s proceedings.
He confirmed the bank statement of Jide Abiodun Sotinrin, who paid money into Agunloye’s account on August 10, 2019, October 22, 2019, and November 13, 2019.
Agunbiade said the transactions were about individuals’ transfers, explaining that the transfer of money was from one individual customer of GTBank to another individual customer of the same bank.
The witness explained that the transfer of N3.6 million by Sotinrin to Agunloye’s account did not reference that it was made on behalf of either Leno Adesanya or Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited.