The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned Dr. Olu Agunloye, the former Minister of Power and Steel, before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja.
Agunloye faces charges related to the award of a contract for the construction of the 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba.
The EFCC brought an amended seven-count charge against him, accusing him of forgery, disobeying a presidential directive, and accepting gratification.
According to the EFCC, Agunloye awarded the Mambilla project contract on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any necessary budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency alleges that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, facilitated through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin.
This amount was allegedly transferred to Agunloye’s Guaranty Trust Bank account in exchange for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the Mambilla project in favor of SPTCL.
Agunloye pleaded not guilty to the seven amended charges read to him in court.
During the trial, Adewale Agunbiade, a former Compliance Officer at GT Bank who now works with Jaiz Bank Plc, testified as the second prosecution witness (PW2).
In his testimony, Agunbiade revealed that he had not been issued a letter from Jaiz Bank authorizing his testimony, and he had not received a witness summons from the EFCC to appear in court.
The witness further stated that when he informed the EFCC operatives that he no longer worked with GT Bank, he was told that he had prepared documents related to the case proceedings.
When questioned if he had presented his identification card to the court to prove his employment with Jaiz Bank, Agunbiade stated that he had not done so, despite giving his evidence-in-chief on September 23, 2024.
Following cross-examination, Justice Jude Onwugbuese adjourned the case, with further hearing scheduled for February 24, 2025.
