$6bn Mambilla Fraud: Witness Insists Prosecution Exhibit Is Authentic

The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Hydropower Project contract continued on Thursday before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

A prosecution witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, told the court under cross-examination that there was no other extract of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, apart from the one he certified and which was admitted in evidence as Exhibit EFCC 3K.

Agunloye is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the award of the Mambilla Power Project contract, valued at $6 billion, to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

During proceedings, defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), questioned the witness on the authenticity of the FEC meeting extract. However, Iyakwari maintained that the certified document tendered by the prosecution remained the authentic record.

The defence later sought to confront the witness with Exhibit EFCC 3D, but the application was opposed by prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN).

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Mohammed argued that the witness could not be cross-examined on a document he neither authored nor tendered before the court.

“My Lord, our objection is anchored on the Supreme Court authority in Buhari versus INEC and others. I object to this application because this witness is not the maker, neither was it tendered through him. We further rely on Palladium Mining Limited and Gekpan Nigeria Limited 2003,” he submitted.

The proceedings marked the conclusion of the cross-examination of Iyakwari, a former Assistant Director (Legal) in the Federal Ministry of Justice, who currently serves as an Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power.

Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently adjourned the matter until July 2 for further hearing.