A third prosecution witness in the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, says ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is ready to testify in court over the controversial Mambilla Power Project.
Testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the Federal High Court in Apo, Abuja, Umar Hussein Babangida (PW3) revealed that Obasanjo had, in a letter dated 27 November 2023, told the Attorney General of the Federation that he was willing to appear before any court, arbitration panel, or public forum if required in the national interest.
Agunloye is currently facing a revised seven-count charge involving alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Babangida also referred to a letter Agunloye wrote to Obasanjo on 7 April 2003. In that letter, Agunloye reportedly requested that Sunrise Power be considered for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station.
Obasanjo, according to the witness, did not object but asked that the matter be taken to the Federal Executive Council for comparison with a proposed coal-fired thermal power project expected to generate 4,000–5,000 megawatts.
When asked whether Obasanjo harboured any personal grievances against Agunloye, the witness said he could not recall any such claim, adding that his testimony was based solely on the written questionnaire provided to the former president.
Babangida further stated that Obasanjo confirmed his knowledge of the Mambilla project but insisted that no approval for the award was granted during his administration. According to him, Obasanjo made it clear that Sunrise Power received no contract under his tenure, and he denied any awareness of a purported award dated 27 May 2003.
