The third prosecution witness (PW3) in the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, has told Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, that former President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed his readiness to testify in court or any forum on issues relating to the Mambilla Power Project or other matters of national interest.
Agunloye is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge involving alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract.
Testifying under cross-examination by defence counsel Adeola Adedipe, SAN, witness Umar Hussein Babangida said Obasanjo had written a letter dated November 27, 2023, addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation, affirming his willingness to appear and testify whenever required.
Babangida also referenced an earlier letter from the defendant, dated April 7, 2003, addressed to President Obasanjo. He noted that on page 3 of the letter, Agunloye requested that Sunrise Power and Transmission Company be considered for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station. According to him, Obasanjo did not object but directed that the memo be presented to the Federal Executive Council for comparison with proposals for a 4,000 to 5,000-megawatt coal-fired thermal project.
When asked whether the former President had any personal issues with Agunloye, the witness said he could not recall such an assertion, emphasising that his responses were based solely on the questionnaire used during Obasanjo’s interrogation.
“During our interrogation with President Obasanjo,” Babangida said, “he confirmed awareness of the contract but stated that there was no approval. This was clearly documented in the Federal Executive Council meeting. He further maintained that no contract was awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company during his tenure because he neither approved such an award nor was aware of any contract purportedly issued on May 27, 2003.”
