Mambilla power contract: EFCC investigator didn’t compare Agunloye’s letter with any document — Witness

The third prosecution witness (PW3) in the ongoing trial of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye, for alleged fraud in the award of contract for controversial Mambilla power project on Minday, November 24, 2025 told the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that he did not compare the contract award letter issued by the former minister to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) with any other document to ascertain whether it was forged or not.

Agunloye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on behalf of the Federal Government, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, sitting at Apo, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on disobeying presidential directive, conspiracy, forgery and receiving gratification.

He was alleged to have, while serving as a minister, conspired with Leno Adesayan of SPTCL to forge a letter titled, “Construction of 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a build, operate and transfer” basis.

He was further alleged to have received gratification from Adesanya to the tune of N5.212million through Jide Abiodun Sotirin through his (Agunloye’s) Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.

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The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

At today’s proceedings in the case, the PW3, Umar Hussain Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), while being cross-examined by counsel for Agunloye, Adeola Adedipe SAN, told the court that he wrote the investigation report which was earlier tendered before the court.

According to him, in the course of investigation, he found out that while serving as a minister, Agunloye awarded contract for the Mambilla project to SPTCL on May 22, 2003, adding that the contract letter had been tendered in court.

Asked by Adedipe to confirm if Count 2 of the prosecution’s second amended charge accused the defendant of forging the award letter, the witness answered in the affirmative.

When asked if he compared the contract award letter with another document to show that it was forged, Babangida said he did not compare it with any document to arrive at the conclusion that it was forged.

Further testifying, he told the court that the award document was a false representation of facts, which were not stated.

“The document is a false representation of fact. It was compared with the information contained in it. It contains false information and misrepresentation of fact. I did not compare it with another document (to ascertain forgery),” Babangida told the court.

He further told the court that 40 ministers, including Agunloye attended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, which he said he did not attend.

The prosecution witness informed the court that he interviewed one of the ministers that attended that meeting and mentioned the then Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN.

When asked if he has a report to show his interview with the then Attorney-General of the Federation, he said there was no report, but that it was oral and not in evidence.

Babangida further informed the court that he also interviewed former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who wrote a letter to the current AGF and Minister of Justice.

“I was not at the (FEC) meeting of 21st May, 2003 but we obtained the report via a formal request. Apart from the defendant, 39 other ministers were present at that meeting.

“I interviewed one ministers and the chair of the meeting, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. I interviewed Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, the then Attorney-General of the Federation.

“We had oral interview with him but there is no report. I did not interview His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, the then Vice-President,” the EFCC witness told the court.

Meanwhile, Justice Onwuegbuzie has adjourned the case to Monday, December 1 for continuation of cross examination of the PW3. [Tribune]