$6Billion Mambilla Fraud Trial: Agunloye Admitted Knowing Contractor Before Ministerial Appointment, Says Witness

In response, the witness, an investigator with the EFCC, said, “Yes, my lord. It is contained on the right side of page 4, line 11 of the statement.”

The third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Hussein Babangida, testified on Wednesday, before the Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, presided over by Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye.

Babangida stated that Agunloye, in his extrajudicial statement to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), admitted knowing Leno Adesanya, the owner of Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited, prior to his appointment as Minister of Power.

Agunloye is currently facing prosecution on an amended seven-count charge, which includes allegations of official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Adeola Adedipe, SAN, the witness was asked to confirm whether the former minister knew Leno Adesanya, owner of Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited, to whom he awarded the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract, before his appointment as Minister of Power.

In response, the witness, an investigator with the EFCC, said, “Yes, my lord. It is contained on the right side of page 4, line 11 of the statement.”

Reading from the defendant’s extrajudicial statement, dated May 16, 2023 and marked Exhibit 3O, the witness disclosed that the defendant wrote, “I have known Leno Adesanya or rather I know of him before I became minister. I have never met him before he came to the ministry in 2002 to push for the Mambilla project which started in 2000.”

When asked if he knew the defendant personally, he replied in the negative, stating that his knowledge of Agunloye was official in the course of carrying out his duties.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till March 11, 12, 16, 2026 for continuation of hearing.