- Safiu Kehinde
An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Umar Babangida, has told an Abuja High Court that Dr Olu Agunloye, was not the minister of power when former President, Olusegun Obasanjo approved the Mambilla Power Project.
Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and the third prosecution witness (PW3) testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, said this while being cross examined by counsel for Agunloye, Adeola Adedipe (SAN) at the resumed hearing of Agunloye’s trial on Wednesday.
Recall that the EFCC had charged Agunloye with an amended seven-count charge bordering on disobeying presidential directive among others.
In his address before the court, Babangida recounted that Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North China Electric Power Design/North China Power Group, which he said he had earlier tendered in court.
The prosecution witness said the North China Power Group had an understanding with the Federal Government (FG) to execute three power projects in the country, including the phase one of Mambilla Hydroelectric Power project.
He confirmed to the court that the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel attested to the strength and management experience of North China Group to carry out the project.
Babangida told the court that the MoU, dated July 3, 2002, was signed on behalf on Federal Government of Nigeria by the then Minister of State for Power and Steel, Alhaji Murtala M. Aliyu.
He added that as of the time of signing the MoU, Agunloye was not the Minister of Power.
The witness further told the court that the then Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olusegun Agagu, wrote a letter to then President Obasanjo, dated November 20, 2002, titled, “Development of Mambilla 3960MW Hydropower Project”.
When asked to read the opening paragraph of the letter, the witness told the court that from the opening paragraph, the Dr Agagu invited Obasanjo’s attention for approval.
He added that SPTCL and another company, Tafag Nigeria Limited be invited for negotiation for the construction of the Mambilla power project.
According to the witness, in the letter, Agagu increased the capacity of the Mambilla project to 3960 megawatts from 2,600 megawatts.
He added that Agagu listed seven companies which indicated interest of the construction of the Mambilla project and the former minister recommended SPTCL and Tafag Nigeria Limited for consideration.
Babangida said that SPTCL’s technical foreign partner was North China Power Group.
“This is the same company the Federal Government had attested to its competence and efficiency in its MoU.”
The witness told the court that Agagu had proposed 35 per cent Federal Government equity participation in the Mambilla project.
He added that in his minute on the letter, dated November 28, 2002, former President Obasanjo wrote, “Minister, approved” and added that instead of 35 percent Federal Government’s equity participation, it should not be more than 25 percent.
Babangida then told the court that, “The defendant (Agunloye) was not the Minister of Power and Steel as of that time.”
Meanwhile, Justice Onwugbuize has adjourned the trial until Thursday for continuation of cross examination of the witness.
Agunloye was alleged to have while serving as a minister conspired with Leno Adesayan of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (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.
The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.