Ex-President Obasanjo To Testify Against Former Minister Agunloye In Mega Power Case

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has pledged to make himself available to testify in any court or forum concerning the controversial Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This was revealed by EFCC witness Umar Babangida during proceedings before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, in the trial of Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel.

Agunloye is facing an amended seven-count charge related to disobeying presidential directives, gratification, and forgery in connection with the Mambilla project.

During cross-examination by Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, Babangida disclosed that Obasanjo had written to the Attorney-General of the Federation in November 2023, affirming his willingness to testify “in any arbitration, court or forum when the need arises in the spirit of national interest.”

The prosecution contends that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye knowingly defied a directive from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held the previous day by approving a contract with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) for the construction of the 3,960 MW Mambilla hydroelectric power station.

Babangida stated that Obasanjo’s responses during interrogation support the prosecution’s case:

“During our interrogation, President Obasanjo confirmed he was aware of the contract but clarified that there was no approval; this was clearly documented during the FEC meeting,” the witness said, according to an EFCC statement.

The former president also asserted that no contract was awarded to Sunrise Power during his tenure, as there was no authorization for such contracts, and he was unaware of the contract award letter dated May 27, 2003.

The EFCC further alleged that Agunloye sent a letter to SPTCL claiming it conveyed the “approval of the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” and conspired with Leno Adesanya of Sunrise Power (currently at large) to use a falsified document to induce the federal government into the contract.

Agunloye’s local trial is closely connected to an international arbitration dispute. Sunrise Power is pursuing damages at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, claiming a breach of contract by the Nigerian government.

Both Obasanjo and the late former President Muhammadu Buhari previously testified for Nigeria during the $2.3 billion ICC arbitration in January 2025, disputing Sunrise Power’s claims of a valid contract.

Obasanjo had also publicly challenged Agunloye in a 2023 interview with The Cable, demanding he explain the authority under which he awarded the multi-billion-dollar contract to Sunrise Power.