The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has once again re-arraigned Olu Agunloye, former minister of power and steel, over alleged irregularities in the award of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station contract.
Agunloye appeared on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Apo, where he faced an amended seven-count charge bordering on disobeying presidential directives, gratification, and forgery.
At the hearing, M. K. Hussain, who stood in for Abba Muhammed, EFCC’s counsel, told the court he was prepared to proceed with the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness. He also disclosed that the prosecution had filed a second amended charge and requested that the defendant take a plea.
Adeola Adedipe, counsel for the defendant, did not oppose the move. The amended charge was read to Agunloye, who entered a “not guilty” plea.
In the amended charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, the EFCC alleged that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye knowingly disobeyed a directive of the president issued at the federal executive council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, by approving a contract with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) for the construction of the 3,960 MW Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station — an act said to contravene section 123 of the penal code.
The commission further alleged that the former minister signed a letter addressed to SPTCL conveying the “approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the construction of the 3,960-megawatt Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.”
Agunloye was also accused of conspiring with Leno Adesanya of Sunrise Power, who is currently at large, to use a false document in May 2003 to mislead the federal government into awarding the contract for the Mambila project, an act contrary to section 366 and punishable under section 364 of the penal code.
Additionally, the EFCC alleged that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Adesanya, the company’s promoter, through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.
Following Agunloye’s plea, Hussain informed the court that Umar Hussein Babangida, the third prosecution witness, was absent for cross-examination. He therefore urged the court to vacate the earlier hearing dates of September 22 and 25.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to October 9 for cross-examination of the third prosecution witness (PW3).
This comes months after the EFCC re-arraigned the former minister in February 2025 on a similar seven-count amended charge.