The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, has asserted that it has powers based mostly on judicial precedents to prosecute ex-Minister of Energy and Metal, Olu Agunloye, over alleged $6 billion Mambilla hydroelectric energy plant.
EFCC is prosecuting Agunloye, who served as a minister within the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on infractions relating to the Mambilla energy plant.
The swimsuit, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/22, is earlier than Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of an FCT Excessive Courtroom Apo, Abuja,
The previous minister was charged with a seven-count cost bordering on forgery, disobedience of presidential order and corruption.
He was alleged to have , amongst others, on Could 22, 2003 awarded a contract titled “Building of three,960 megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Energy Station on construct, function and switch foundation to Dawn Energy and Transmission Firm Restricted with none budgetary provision, approval and money backing.
EFCC additionally alleged that it traced some suspicious funds made by Dawn Energy and Transmission Firm Restricted to the previous minister’s accounts.
Agunloye, nonetheless, pleaded not responsible to the cost most popular in opposition to him.
The previous minister had, filed a preliminary movement on discover, with the quantity M/3736/2024, filed on February 8, 2024.
His counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, within the movement argued that the anti-corruption fee lacks each investigative and prosecutorial powers to prosecute him on the present cost earlier than the courtroom.
He additional argued that the alleged offences he dedicated have been based mostly on his actions as a public officer, amongst different allegations, which didn’t represent monetary crimes.
Responding in its counter-affidavit, EFCC insisted that inspite of the previous Minister’s submission, it has such powers to research and prosecute him.
The fee averred that the regulation donates the facility to research and prosecute the previous minister to it.
In line with the fee, the case of Nwobike vs FRN relied on by the defence to say that it (EFCC) has no such energy ro prosecute him was fairly completely different from the current case involving the previous minister.
