An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Umar Babangida, told a High Court, Abuja Division, that Dr Olu Agunloye, was not the minister of power when former President, Olusegun Obasanjo approved the Mambilla Power Project.

Mr Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), is the third prosecution witness (PW3) testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

The EFCC charged Mr Agunloye with an amended seven-count charge bordering on disobeying presidential directive among others.

At the resumed sitting, Mr Babangida while being cross examined by counsel for Mr Agunloye, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, said that Nigeria signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with North China Electric Power Design/North China Power Group, which he said he had earlier tendered in court.

He said the North China Power Group had an agreement with the Federal Government (FG) to execute three power projects in the country, including phase one of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power project.

He confirmed to the court that the Federal Ministry of Power and Steel attested to the strength and management experience of North China Group to carry out the project.

He told the court that the MoU, dated July 3, 2002, was signed on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria by the then Minister of State for Power and Steel, Murtala M. Aliyu.

He added that as of the time of signing the MoU, Mr Agunloye was not the minister of power.

The witness further told the court that the then Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olusegun Agagu, wrote a letter to then President Obasanjo, dated November 20, 2002, titled, “Development of Mambilla 3960 MW Hydropower Project.”

Asked to read the opening paragraph of the letter, the witness told the court that from the opening paragraph, Mr Agagu invited Mr Obasanjo’s attention for approval.

He added that SPTCL and another company, Tafag Nigeria Limited be invited for negotiation for the construction of the Mambilla power project.

According to the witness, in the letter, Mr Agagu increased the capacity of the Mambilla project to 3960 megawatts from 2,600 megawatts.

He added that Mr Agagu listed seven companies which indicated interest in the construction of the Mambilla project and the former minister recommended SPTCL and Tafag Nigeria Limited for consideration.

Mr Babangida said that SPTCL’s technical foreign partner was North China Power Group.

He said, “This is the same company the Federal Government had attested to its competence and efficiency in its MoU.”

The witness told the court that Mr Agagu proposed 35 per cent Federal Government equity participation in the Mambilla project.

He added that in his minute on the letter, dated November 28, 2002, former President Obasanjo wrote, “Minister, approved” and added that instead of 35 percent Federal Government’s equity participation, it should not be more than 25 percent.

Mr Babangida then told the court that, “The defendant (Agunloye) was not the Minister of Power and Steel as of that time.”

Meanwhile, Justice Onwugbuize has adjourned the trial until Thursday for continuation of cross examination of the witness.

Mr Agunloye was alleged to have while serving as a minister conspired with Leno Adesayan of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) to forge a letter titled, “Construction of 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on a build, operate and transfer” basis.

He was further alleged to have received gratification from Mr Adesanya to the tune of N5, 212 million through Jide Abiodun Sotirin through his (Agunloye’s) Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account, for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station.

The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

(NAN)