The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday presented its fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract.
Agunloye is being prosecuted before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and the alleged unlawful award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
Testifying as the fifth prosecution witness (PW5), Mr. Iliya John Iyakwari, an Assistant Director of Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice currently serving as Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, told the court that he certified extracts of the minutes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on May 21, 2003, following a request from the EFCC.
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, Iyakwari explained that the anti-graft agency wrote to the Ministry of Power in June 2023 requesting certified extracts from the FEC meeting.
According to him, the request was forwarded by the Permanent Secretary to the Legal Services Department, which subsequently obtained the required documents from the relevant department.
“The Permanent Secretary forwarded the letter to the Legal Services Department requesting the information contained in the EFCC’s letter. The department handling such records provided the extract, and I was directed by the Legal Adviser to certify the document before it was transmitted to the EFCC using the ministry’s official letterhead,” he told the court.
During the proceedings, the witness identified the EFCC’s request letter, admitted as Exhibit EFCC 3J, and the ministry’s response letter, admitted as Exhibit EFCC 3K, confirming both as true copies.
Following the testimony, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for the cross-examination of the witness.
