By Francis Wilfred
Former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, on Wednesday faced further scrutiny at the , Apo Division, Abuja, as a prosecution witness told the court that the ex-minister admitted knowing the owner of Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited prior to his appointment.
Agunloye is being prosecuted by the (EFCC) on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
Testifying as the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Hussein Babangida informed the court that Agunloye, in an extra-judicial statement to the EFCC, acknowledged that he was aware of Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited, before his appointment as minister.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, the witness, an EFCC investigator, read from a May 2023 extra-judicial statement admitted in evidence as Exhibit 3O. According to him, the defendant clarified that although he knew of Adesanya prior to assuming office, they did not formally meet until 2002 when Adesanya allegedly visited the ministry to lobby for the Mambilla Power Project, valued at $6 billion.
The witness also told the court that he did not know the defendant personally, adding that his interactions with Agunloye were strictly in the course of his official duties.
Agunloye has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After proceedings, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until March 11, 12 and 16, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The court proceedings form part of ongoing efforts by the EFCC to prosecute alleged financial and procurement-related infractions linked to the controversial Mambilla Power Project.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.
