EFCC Presents Fifth Witness In Agunloye’s $6 Billion Mambilla Project Trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented its fifth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of a former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the controversial $6bn Mambilla Power Project contract.

Agunloye is standing trial before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and fraudulent award of contract.

The case is linked to the award of the Mambilla Power Project contract, valued at $6bn, to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

Naija News reports that at the resumed hearing on Monday, June 1, 2026, the EFCC called Iliya John Iyakwari, an Assistant Director of Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice, as its fifth prosecution witness.

Iyakwari, who currently serves in the Federal Ministry of Power as an Assistant Legal Adviser, told the court that he had been in the ministry since August 2014.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, the witness said he certified an extract of the minutes of the Federal Executive Council meeting held on May 21, 2003, following a request from the EFCC.

According to him, the anti-graft agency had written to the Ministry of Power in June 2023, requesting the extract of the FEC meeting.

He said the request was addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, who later forwarded it to the Legal Services Department for necessary action.

Narrating how the document was processed, Iyakwari said the Legal Services Department contacted the relevant department in charge of such records, after which the requested extract was made available.

He said, “The Permanent Secretary forwarded the letter to the Legal Service department, requesting the information on the letter. The legal department wrote to the department that handles such matters to give us the extract, and they forwarded the copy of the said extract, where my legal adviser asked me to certify the copy, and I forwarded the certified copy of the extract using our official letterhead to the EFCC.”

The witness was later shown the EFCC request letter, which had been marked as Exhibit EFCC 3J, as well as the ministry’s letter of reply, marked Exhibit EFCC 3K.

He identified both documents and confirmed them as true copies.

After taking the testimony of the witness, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till June 8, 2026, for the cross-examination of Iyakwari.

The former minister’s trial is one of the major cases connected to the long-running controversy over the Mambilla Power Project, which has remained a subject of public concern due to its huge financial value and delayed execution.