A former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, accused of a $6 billion fraud related to the Mambilla Hydroelectric Plant, has appealed for the assistance of Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
He also sought the involvement of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Yakubu Maikyau, former Minister of Justice Kanu Agabi, and Joseph Daudu.
Agunloye is contesting the jurisdiction of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute him for the allegations before an FCT High Court.
The EFCC is pursuing charges against Agunloye, who held a ministerial position in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for purported offenses linked to the Mambilla power plant.
The former minister is accused of forgery, contravening a presidential directive, and engaging in corrupt practices.
According to the EFCC, Agunloye is alleged to have awarded a contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company for the construction of the 3,960 MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station under a build, operate, and transfer (BOT) arrangement without the necessary budgetary allocation, approval, or financial backing.
The prosecution claims to have traced suspicious payments from Sunrise Power to the former minister’s bank accounts.
Agunloye has pleaded not guilty.
During the latest court session, the prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed, informed the court that two motions filed by the defendant were set for hearing: one concerning the modification of his bail terms and the other a preliminary objection to the charges. He informed the court that the prosecution had filed counter affidavits in response to both motions.
However, Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, stated that he had filed a new motion on behalf of his client. This motion urged the court to invite amicus curiae (friends of the court) to be present during the hearing of the preliminary objection.
He added the application had to be heard before the preliminary objection.0