Alleged $6b Mambilla Project Fraud: FEC Did Not Approve Agunloye’s Memo for Contract Award to Sunrise, Says Liyel Imoke

The Sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Liyel Imoke, in the trial of a former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, on Monday, October 19, 2026 told Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja that the Federal Executive Council, FEC did not approve the memo for the award of contract presented by the former Minister to Sunrise Power & Transmission Company Limited for the construction of the Mambilla Hydro Power Project.

Agunloye is facing prosecution on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars) to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited while in office as Minister of Power and Steel between 2002 and 2003.

Imoke, while being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN told the court that he served as Minister between August 2003 and November 2006 after succeeding the defendant in 2003. He recalled being invited by the EFCC where he made statements on May 24, 2023

“I was invited to the EFCC Headquarters where I was interviewed in relation to the letter I authored that was addressed to Sunrise Power & Transmission Company Limited on September 3, 2003. I informed them that the Federal Executive Council did not approve the memo that was presented by the defendant recommending the award of contract for the construction of the Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project to Sunrise.

“My lord, I wrote the letter in response to the letter of enquiry from Sunrise requesting for payment in respect of the contract of Mambilla Hydro Power Project contract which was purportedly awarded to Sunrise by the former minister, the defendant”

“When I received the letter, I requested for the file and while reviewing the file, I saw the extract of the minutes from the FEC meeting amongst other documents. I read the deliberations and the directives of FEC to the then Minister of Power and Steel, (the defendant) which stated that the memo of the defendant be withdrawn and directed the Minister to invite more proposals with a view to ensuring constructive negotiations and to explore various investment options”

Continuing “It was on that basis that I responded to the letter of enquiry and request for payment by Sunrise….. Thereafter I was asked to make a written statement to the EFCC after which I left” he said

The witness was shown his statement marked Exhibit EFCC 3Q, made on May 24, 2023 and he admitted making it. He was also shown the extract that was marked Exhibit 3K, Exhibit EFCC 3, Annexure C which he admitted that he wrote, signed and addressed to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited dated September 3, 2003”

During cross examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, when asked why he didn’t cancel the contract when he discovered it was purportedly awarded, he responded that it was because the contract was not approved by FEC, so there was no need to cancel what was not approved.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter till November 2, 4,9,11, 2026 for continuation of trial.