During the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Olu Agunloye, on June 16, 2025, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Babangida, testified before Justice J.O. Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo. He stated that neither former President Olusegun Obasanjo nor the Federal Executive Council (FEC) authorized the Mambila Power Project contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
The witness referenced a November 27, 2023, letter from Obasanjo to the Attorney General, clarifying that while the former minister submitted a memorandum on the project, no approval was granted for Sunrise Power. Obasanjo reportedly directed Agunloye to present the proposal to the FEC for deliberation but never authorized the contract.
Additionally, Babangida revealed that during a February 7, 2024, meeting, Obasanjo reiterated that he did not approve the contract and that Agunloye’s subsequent award to Sunrise Power—just 24 hours after being instructed to withdraw the proposal—was unauthorized.
Agunloye is being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven counts related to fraud and corruption involving $6 billion. Investigations uncovered multiple suspicious transactions, including millions of naira deposited into his Guaranty Trust Bank account from Shotire Jide Abiodun, an associate of Sunrise Power’s owner, Leno Laitan Adesanya.
The case has been adjourned to June 18, 2025, for further proceedings.
Source: EFCC Facebook page
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