.png)
1 hour ago
1
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday, re-arraigned a former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, for alleged $6 billion fraud in the award of contract for Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo.
He was arraigned on an amended seven-count charge of disobeying a presidential directive, forgery, and receiving gratification.
At the resumed hearing in the matter, the prosecution counsel, M. K. Hussain, who held the brief for Abba Muhammed (SAN), informed the court that he was ready for the cross-examination of the third prosecution witness (PW3).
He added that the prosecution had filed its second amended charge against the defendant.
The counsel urged the court to allow the defendant to take his plea on the second amended charge.
The counsel for the ex-minister, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), did not object to his client taking a plea to the second amended charge.
The amended seven-count charge was subsequently read to the defendant, and he pleaded not guilty to the amended charge.
In the amended charge marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Agunloye, on May 22, 2003 knowingly disobeyed the directive of the President made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003.
The commission claimed that the directive was in pursuance of the President’s powers under Section 5(1)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
READ ALSO: Alleged $6bn fraud: Court gives EFCC go-ahead to amend charges against Agunloye
The prosecution further alleged that the defendant went ahead and signed a letter addressed to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL), conveying the “approval of the Federal Government for the construction of the 3,960 megawatts Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station.”
Following the ex-minister’s not-guilty plea, Hussain informed the court that PW3, Umar Hussein Babangida, was absent in court.
He, therefore, urged the court to vacate the earlier dates of September 22 and 25 fixed for hearing the case, adding that the former dates had been communicated to the defence team.
Based on the parties’ agreement, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till October 9 for the cross-examination of the PW3.
The post EFCC re-arraigns Agunloye for alleged $6bn fraud appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
