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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over alleged $6 billion Mambilla Hydropower Project fraud recorded a major development yesterday as a prosecution witness affirmed the authenticity of a key Federal Executive Council (FEC) document tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Iliya John Iyakwari, told Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, during cross-examination that there was no other extract of the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003, apart from the one marked Exhibit EFCC 3K, which he certified and which was admitted as evidence before the court.
Iyakwari, former assistant director, Legal, in the Federal Ministry of Justice and currently an assistant legal adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, rejected suggestions by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, that another version of the FEC extract existed.
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During the proceedings, the defence sought to confront the witness with Exhibit EFCC 3D, but the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, objected on the grounds that the witness was not the maker of the document and it was not tendered through him.
Mohammed argued that the objection was supported by judicial authorities, including the Supreme Court decision in Buhari vs. INEC, insisting that the witness could not be cross-examined on a document he did not author.
Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge filed by the EFCC bordering on alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract worth $6 billion to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
The cross-examination of the witness was subsequently concluded, while Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until July 2, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
