EFCC presents fifth witness against ex-power minister in ongoing probe

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday presented its fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Olu Agunloye, former minister of power over the controversial $6 billion Mambilla hydroelectric power project contract.

Agunloye is being prosecuted before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the federal capital territory high court, Apo, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

Iliya John Iyakwari, the fifth prosecution witness, an assistant director of legal in the federal ministry of justice and currently serving as assistant legal adviser in the federal ministry of power, testified during the proceedings.

Led in evidence by Abba Mohammed (SAN), EFCC counsel, Iyakwari told the court that he certified extracts of the minutes of a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on May 21, 2003, following a request from the anti-graft agency.

According to him, the EFCC, in June 2023, wrote to the ministry of power through the permanent secretary, requesting certified extracts of the FEC meeting related to the Mambilla project.

“The Permanent Secretary forwarded the letter to the Legal Service Department, requesting the information on the letter,” the witness said.

He explained further that the legal department subsequently contacted the relevant department responsible for maintaining such records.

“The legal department wrote to the department that handles such to give us the extract and they forwarded the copy of the said extract where my legal adviser asked me to certify the copy and I forwarded the certified copy of the extract using our official letterhead to the EFCC,” Iyakwari told the court.

The witness identified the EFCC’s request letter, marked Exhibit EFCC 3J, and the ministry’s response, marked Exhibit EFCC 3K, confirming both as authentic documents.

Following the witness’s testimony, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for cross-examination.

The trial is one of the high-profile corruption cases being pursued by the EFCC, with proceedings centred on the circumstances surrounding the award of the multi-billion-dollar Mambilla Power Project contract.