Ex-Minister, Agunloye Got N5.2m From $6bn Mambila Project Fraud – EFCC Reveals

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A court has been told how former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye allegedly received N5.2 million from Jide Sotirin Abiodun, a staff of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in multiple transfers and Automated Teller Machine, ATM, withdrawals.

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The revelation was made by an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC witness, Adewale Agunbiade.

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Agunloye is being prosecuted by the EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd.

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The witness, who appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, was a Compliance Officer, formerly with Guaranty Trust Bank, GTB.

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During his examination, Agunbiade revealed that GTB received an EFCC inquiry in October 2022 about customers Olu Agunloye and Jide Sotinri’s accounts.

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He generated account statements and Certificates of Identification, cosigning the response letters. Exhibits showed six transactions on Sept 10, 2019, including five N30,000 ATM withdrawals and a N3.6m transfer from Jide Sotinri to Olu Agunloye.

“On page two of Exhibit 2b is the statement of Jide Sotirin Abiodun and the Certificate of Identification prepared by me on the statement of the account. On the 10th of September 2019, there were six transactions.

“The last five transactions were ATM cash withdrawals of N30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each. The last transaction on 10 August 2019 was a transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloy”, he said.

Speaking further, he disclosed that Agunloye received significant financial transfers in 2019. On October 22, 2019, he got N500,000 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun. Another transfer of N1,121,000 came from Leno on November 13, 2019, also from Jide Sotirin.

Also, Agunloye’s account showed an inward transfer of N3.6 million (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun on August 10, 2019.

“As of 22 October 2019, a record of N500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) was transferred from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye. On 13 November 2019, a record of N1,121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) from Leno in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.

“On 10 August 2019 was an inward transfer of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun. On 22 October 2019, there was an inflow of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun. Also on 13th November 2019 was an inflow of N1, 121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.”

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The case was adjourned till October 21, 2024 for cross-examination.