In the ongoing trial of Olu Agunloye, former minister of power and steel, over the $6 billion Mambilla hydropower contract, a witness from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has provided crucial evidence on multiple transfers made to Agunloye’s accounts.
According to the EFCC, Jide Sotirin, an employee of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd., made several transfers in favor of Agunloye, prompting suspicion of fraudulent activities.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has also challenged Agunloye to clarify the authority under which he awarded a $6 billion contract to Sunrise for the Mambilla hydropower project in 2003.
Agunloye was arraigned by the EFCC on a seven-count charge related to fraudulent contract awards and official corruption.
Adebayo Ilori, a compliance officer with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), testified in court, detailing how the bank received a letter from the EFCC requesting information on Agunloye and Sotirin’s accounts.
The witness explained that GTB compared the information generated from the bank’s system with the requested documents to ensure accuracy before dispatching them to the EFCC.
Sotirin, identified as the signatory to the account, transferred various amounts to Agunloye’s account, including N5,221,000, N3,600,000, N500,000, and N1,121,000, allegedly related to the Mambila Power Project contract.
The witness’s testimony highlighted the suspicious nature of the transactions, forming a crucial part of the EFCC’s case against Agunloye.
The trial continues as the EFCC seeks to establish the veracity of the allegations against the former minister and secure a conviction based on the evidence presented in court.