The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday presented former President Olusegun Obasanjo's statement as evidence in the ongoing trial of Dr. Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel, at an Abuja High Court.
Agunloye faces a seven-count charge related to alleged forgery, disobedience of presidential directives, and gratification in connection with the controversial award of the Mambilla Hydropower Station contract in Taraba State.
Contract Award Without Approval
According to the EFCC, Agunloye awarded the Mambilla project contract on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing. The commission also alleged that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya through Jide Abiodun Sotirin to facilitate the Federal Government's approval for the project.
The third prosecution witness, Umar Hussein Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police on secondment to EFCC, testified that former President Obasanjo had written to the Attorney-General of the Federation on November 27, 2023, providing details about what transpired during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, regarding the power project contract.
Obasanjo's Testimony
"We received the Certified True Copy of the document where the former president stated that he received a memorandum from the former Minister of Power. He added that he minuted the document, directing the minister to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation. He said but he did not give approval to the minister for the award of the contract and neither was approval given at the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003," Babangida told the court.
The witness further revealed that during their interview with Obasanjo, the former president confirmed he did not authorize Agunloye to award the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station contract to SPTCL. Instead, Obasanjo reportedly stated that the FEC had directed Agunloye to withdraw his memorandum during the May 21, 2003 meeting.
Financial Transactions Under Scrutiny
The EFCC investigation also uncovered suspicious financial transactions. According to Babangida, Agunloye received several payments through his GT Bank account from Sotirin Jide Abiodun, who was identified as a domestic personal assistant to Leno Laitan Adesanya, a staff member of Adesanya's companies, and a director in Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
The transactions included N3.6 million on August 10, 2019, N500,000 on October 22, 2019, and N1.1 million on November 13, 2019.
While the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed SAN, successfully tendered Obasanjo's statement as an exhibit, the defense counsel, Samuel Fagade, representing lead counsel Adeola Adedipe SAN, objected to the document but reserved the grounds for final arguments.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie has adjourned the case until June 18 for continuation of hearing.
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