The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye continued on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, with a prosecution witness revealing how key records linked to the controversial Mambilla Power Project were traced to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Agunloye is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of a $6 billion contract for the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, the fourth prosecution witness, Ugochukwu Christian Okoli, told the court that the extract of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
Okoli, who served as Assistant Legal Adviser in the SGF’s office on secondment from the Federal Ministry of Justice between 2022 and 2023, was led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN).
He explained that in September 2022, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wrote to the SGF’s office requesting certified extracts of the FEC meeting held on May 21, 2003, specifically relating to a memo presented by the then Minister of Power on the proposed 3,960MW Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project under a Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement.
According to him, the EFCC also sought clarification on whether the Federal Executive Council had granted approval for the project.
“The Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation received a letter from the EFCC requesting the extract of the minute of the FEC meeting held on the 21st of May, 2003,” Okoli told the court.
He further narrated that the correspondence was routed through the appropriate administrative channels before being assigned to the Legal Department, where he was tasked with handling the request.
Okoli added that after reviewing the relevant files obtained from the Cabinet Affairs Office, he confirmed that the requested document was indeed in their custody.
The matter was adjourned for continuation of hearing.
