Mambila fraud: How N5.2m was wired to ex-minister, witness tells court

A prosecuting witness, Adewale Agunbiade, in the trial of the alleged $6 billion Mambilla project fraud, has narrated before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court how a former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye received N5.2million from a staff of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd, Jide Sotirin Abiodun.

According to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission posted on its X handle on Tuesday, a Compliance Officer, formerly with Guaranty Trust Bank said the sum was received in multiple transfers and Automated Teller Machine withdrawals.

“Agunbiade, a prosecuting witness in the trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye on Monday, September 23, 2024, narrated before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, how the defendant allegedly received N5.2million from Jide Sotirin Abiodun, a staff of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd in multiple transfers and Automated Teller Machine, ATM, withdrawals,” the statement read partly.

According to the statement, the witness, now a staff of Jaiz Bank Plc, while being led in his examination-in-chief, by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, disclosed that “On October 2022, GTB received an investigation activity inquiry from EFCC in respect of the account of two customers, Mr Olu Agunloye and Mr Jide Sotinri.

“My team received the requests on behalf of the bank, following which I generated the statement of account via the system used by me at the time. I also prepared the Certificate of Identification, following my review of the statement against the records of the bank. I cosigned the cover letter of the responses.”

Upon identifying and confirming the letters from EFCC in respect of the said accounts, marked Exhibit 1a and 2a and GTB’s responses marked Exhibit 2a and 2b, the witness said “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.”

Speaking further, he disclosed that “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.

“Exhibit 1b is an account opening belonging to Agunloye Olu. 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.”

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

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.