Mambilla: Court allows EFCC to re-arraign ex-power minister Agunloye over alleged $6 billion fraud 

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the court granted EFCC’s request to amend its charges brought against Agunloye and make him take his fresh plea.

Early last year, Agunloye was arraigned by the EFCC over alleged official corruption and the alleged fraudulent award of the disputed Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6 billion.

On July 1, 2024, EFCC counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, later informed the court of the need to amend its charge to reflect relevant information.

In his ruling on Thursday, the judge held that the amendment by the EFCC was not intended to cause injustice to the defendant, stressing that a court of competent jurisdiction has powers to permit an alteration or amendment to a charge or framing of a new charge at any time before final judgment.

“In the court’s final decision, the arguments of the learned counsel to the defendant are hereby discountenanced, and therefore I hold that the application(for amendment) is liable to succeed accordingly; I so hold; subsequently, the application is hereby granted as prayed on the face of the motion paper, and the defendant is hereby ordered to take his plea on the altered or amended charge; this is the ruling of the court,” the judge said.

Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently adjourned the matter to February 3, 2025, for the defendant to take his plea.

Recall that on April 16, 2024, Justice Jude Onwueguzie dismissed a legal challenge from Olu Agunloye regarding the EFCC’s right to bring charges against him for an alleged fraud of $6 billion.

Several matters have been instituted against parties associated with the Mambilla Project at different courts and arbitration proceedings.