EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement in $6bn Mambilla power fraud – Newstrends
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EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement in $6bn Mambilla power fraud

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Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo

EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement in $6bn Mambilla power fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an Abuja high court on Monday tendered the statement made to it by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the trial of Dr Olu Agunloye.

Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, is charged with infractions in the award of the contract for Mambilla Hydropower Station in Taraba.

Agunloye is standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying presidential directive and gratification brought against him before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Apo High Court.

In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Agunloye awarded a contract for the Mambilla project on May 22, 2003, to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval and cash backing.

The commission also alleged that the former minister received N5.212 million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotirin, through his Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) account to “convey” the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambilla power project in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.

The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.

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At the resumed hearing of the case, the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Hussein Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police on secondment to EFCC, told the court that former president Obasanjo wrote a letter, dated Nov. 27, 2023, to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

He added that in the letter, he gave an account of what transpired at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003, concerning the power project contract.

The witness said that EFCC subsequently wrote to the Federal Ministry of Justice, requesting the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the former president’s letter, which the ministry obliged the commission.

“We received the CTV of the document where the former president stated that he received a memorandum from the former minister of power.

He added that, and he minuted on the document, directing the minister to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation.

He said, “But he did not give approval to the minister for the award of the contract, and neither was approval given at the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003.”

The witness further informed the court that in the course of the investigation, the commission’s investigating team met with Obasanjo.

“We interviewed the former president, and he later made a statement.

“In the course of the interview, Obasanjo told us that he did not give approval to the defendant to award the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to SPTCL,” he said.

The prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed SAN, then tendered the former president’s statement as an exhibit in the case.

The defendant’s counsel, Samuel Fagade, who represented the lead counsel, Adeola Adedipe SAN, objected to the document, though he did not state the grounds of objection.

He, however, told the court that he was reserving it for the final argument in the case.

The former president’s statement was temporarily admitted as an exhibit by the court.

Giving the summary of their interview session with the former president, Babangida told the court that Obasanjo told the investigating team that the former minister was directed by the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003, to withdraw his memorandum.

He added that the team was further told by Obasanjo that the letter issued on May 22, 2003, by the then minister of power awarding the contract to SPTCL was not on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The witness further told the court that the investigating team then reviewed Agunloye’s financial records and discovered that he (the defendant) operated several bank accounts, including one with GT Bank.

He informed the court that Agunloye received money through his GT Bank account from one Sotirin Jide Abiodun.

He said he was a domestic personal assistant to Leno Laitan Adesanya as well as a staff member of companies belonging to Adesanya and a director in Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

According to the witness, Sotirin Abiodun transferred the sums of N3.6 million, N500,000 and N1.1 million to Agunloye’s account on Aug. 10, 2019, Oct. 22, 2019 and Nov. 13, 2019, respectively.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned until June 18 for continuation of hearing.

 

EFCC tenders Obasanjo’s statement in $6bn Mambilla power fraud

(NAN)

 

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UAE imposes fresh travel conditions on Nigerians

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July 9, 2025

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UAE imposes fresh travel conditions on Nigerians

– No transit visa for 18-45-year-old

UAE imposes fresh travel conditions on Nigerians

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Nigerians to get 3-month single-entry US visa under new policy

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2 hours ago

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July 9, 2025

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Nigerians to get 3-month single-entry US visa under new policy

The United States Department of State on Tuesday announced updates to its reciprocal non-immigrant visa policy, impacting several countries, including Nigeria.

In a statement on Tuesday, the US Embassy in Nigeria said effective immediately, most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens of Nigeria will be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.

The statement, however, said that those US non-immigrant visas issued before July 8, 2025, will retain their status and validity.

The US was earlier considering imposing a visa ban on Nigeria.

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“We wish to underscore that, as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity,” the statement published on its website said.

The US visa criteria and standards are designed to protect the integrity of US immigration systems, it stressed, adding, “These standards are based on global technical and security benchmarks.

It said that the US Mission was working with the Government of Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria could meet the criteria.

“Nigerian travellers are encouraged to respect and adhere to the terms of their visas, and ensure travel documents are authentic, accurate, and up to date,” it said.

Nigerians to get 3-month single-entry US visa under new policy

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Pregnant 300-level student accused of setting boyfriend ablaze

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3 hours ago

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July 9, 2025

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University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)

Pregnant 300-level student accused of setting boyfriend ablaze

Tragedy struck in the Choba area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend when a pregnant 300-level student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), identified as Cynthia Chukwundah, allegedly burnt her boyfriend, Sunny Amadi (32), to death.

While the exact circumstances leading to Cynthia’s actions are unclear, some neighbours told Daily Trust it might have resulted from a minor argument between the couple.

It was gathered that the deceased is the father of the child Cynthia is carrying.

Residents of the area reported that Cynthia, who fled the scene immediately after the incident, was later arrested by the police operatives and she is also receiving treatment for burns she sustained during the incident.

The incident, which occurred a few minutes after 11pm, saw some public-spirited neighbours rush the deceased to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment, where he unfortunately died.

The police spokesperson in Rivers State, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.

She stated that Cynthia is currently receiving treatment at a hospital due to injuries sustained during the incident.

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Due to her critical condition, she is currently unable to provide a detailed account of the incident but will do so once her condition is stable.

SP Iringe-Koko’s statement read:

“The Rivers State Police Command is aware of and deeply concerned about a report depicting a fire incident that occurred at No. 11B Okoro Street, Choba, Port Harcourt.

“According to the report, one Cynthia Chukwundah, a 300-level female undergraduate of the University of Port Harcourt, allegedly set her boyfriend, one Saint Sunny Amadi, a 32-year-old male from Elibrada community in Emohua LGA, ablaze in a room, resulting in severe injuries.

‘’He was rushed to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for medical treatment.

“Upon receiving the report at about 1112 hours, police detectives from Choba Division promptly visited the scene and the victim, who was in critical condition at the hospital. ‘’Unfortunately, the victim later succumbed to injuries and died while on admission.

“The police have located Cynthia, who is currently receiving medical treatment at a hospital due to injuries she also sustained during the incident.

‘’She is also heavily pregnant with the deceased’s child. Due to her critical condition, she is unable to provide a detailed account of the incident but will do so when her condition is stable.

“The probable cause of the fire incident is yet to be ascertained, and a thorough investigation has been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident. Further developments will be made public as more information becomes available.”

Pregnant 300-level student accused of setting boyfriend ablaze

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