By Nkechi Eze
The ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged $6 billion Mambilla Power Project fraud took a new turn on Wednesday as a prosecution witness told the court that the ex-minister admitted knowing the owner of the contractor company before his appointment.
The Third Prosecution Witness, Umar Hussein Babangida, made the disclosure before the Federal High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja, and presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.
Agunloye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and the alleged fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
In an official signed statement, EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, disclosed that during cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, the witness confirmed that the former minister acknowledged knowing the company’s owner, Leno Adesanya, prior to his ministerial appointment.
When asked in court whether Agunloye knew Adesanya before becoming Minister of Power, the witness responded, “Yes my lord, it is contained on the right side of Page 4, line 11 of the statement.”
Reading from Agunloye’s extra-judicial statement to the EFCC dated May 16, 2023, and marked Exhibit 3O, the witness quoted the defendant as saying, “I have known Leno Adesanya or rather I know of him before I became minister. I have never met him before he came to the ministry in 2002 to push for the Mambilla project which started in 2000.”
The witness also clarified that he did not know Agunloye personally and only became familiar with him in the course of his official investigative duties.
Following the proceedings, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to March 11, 12 and 16, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
Agunloye’s trial centres on allegations surrounding the controversial award of the multi-billion-dollar Mambilla Power Project contract, one of Nigeria’s most significant power infrastructure initiatives.
