Alleged $6bn Mambila Fraud: “Obasanjo to Testify When Need Arises” – Prosecution Witness

A prosecution witness has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that former President OLUSEGUN OBASANJO promised to testify in the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, OLU AGUNLOYE, over alleged Six Billion Dollars fraud. OLU AGUNLOYE is facing trial on a seven-count charge of corruption and fraudulent award of the contract for the Mambila Power Project during the OBASANJO Administration. UMAR HUSSEIN BABANGIDA, who is the third prosecution witness, made this known at the resumed hearing of the case before Justice JUDE ONWUEGBUZIE. BABANGIDA made reference to a letter AGUNLOYE purportedly wrote to the then President on April 7, 2003, suggesting that Sunrise Power and Transmission Company be considered for the construction of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station. He noted that former President did not express an objection but only asked the defendant to bring the memo to the Federal Executive Council for comparison. When asked “if the former President has a personal issue with Agunloye” he responded by saying that he cannot recollect if the former President said anything about having a personal issue with the defendant because his response was based on the questionnaire they gave to him. “During our interrogation with President Obasanjo, he said he was aware of the contract but there was no approval, this was clearly documented during the Federal Executive Council meeting. He also stated that no contract was awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company during his tenure because there was no approval for the award of such contracts, nor was he aware of the existence of the contract award of May 27, 2003” he said.