The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project fraud took a dramatic turn on Thursday as a prosecution witness told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) document tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is the only authentic version in existence.
The witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, who appeared as the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), insisted under cross-examination that the certified extract of the FEC meeting held on May 21, 2003, admitted as Exhibit EFCC 3K, remains the only genuine record in his custody.
Iyakwari dismissed suggestions by the defence that another version of the FEC extract existed, maintaining that the document was certified in accordance with official procedures.
“There is no other extract different from the one before the court,” the witness maintained during questioning by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN).
Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge filed by the EFCC, bordering on alleged official corruption and the purported fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
During the proceedings, the defence attempted to confront the witness with another document marked Exhibit EFCC 3D.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Abba Mohammed (SAN), objected, arguing that the witness could not be cross-examined on a document he neither prepared nor tendered before the court.
“My Lord, our objection is anchored on the Supreme Court authority in Buhari vs INEC and Others. I object to this application because this witness is not the maker, neither was it tendered through him. We further rely on Palladium Mining Ltd & Gekpan Nigeria Limited (2003),” Mohammed submitted.
The witness, a former Assistant Director (Legal) in the Federal Ministry of Justice who now serves as an Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, subsequently concluded his testimony under cross-examination.
With the completion of his evidence, the prosecution successfully closed another phase of its case against the former minister.
Following the proceedings, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until July 2, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The high-profile case is one of the major corruption trials being prosecuted by the EFCC and is expected to attract renewed public attention when proceedings resume next month.
