EFCC Witness Links Obasanjo to ₦17bn Mambilla Hydropower Budget

EFCC Witness Links Obasanjo to ₦17bn Mambilla Hydropower Budget

A Federal High Court in Abuja has heard testimony that former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly directed the then Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, to increase the budget of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project from ₦6 billion to ₦17 billion in the 2003 federal budget.

The revelation emerged during the ongoing trial of Agunloye, who is facing charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged irregularities linked to the multi-billion-dollar Mambilla power project. An EFCC investigator told the court that Obasanjo reportedly gave the instruction during a private meeting held on the eve of a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, with the aim of jump-starting the long-delayed power project.

READ ALSO:

• Outrage in Kano as Gov Yusuf Vows Death Sentence for Chiranci Family Killers
• Saudi Arabia Backs Next Phase of Gaza Peace Plan, Supports Trump’s Board of Peace
• Tension Grows in ADC as Obi, Atiku Supporters Clash Over 2027 Presidential Ticket

According to the witness, the proposed ₦11 billion increase was subsequently mentioned at the FEC meeting, although the council later directed that the memo be withdrawn to allow for further negotiations with investors. The project, designed to generate about 3,960 megawatts of electricity, has remained Nigeria’s largest planned hydropower facility but has been stalled for decades by legal disputes and funding controversies.

Agunloye, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is accused of approving documents and taking decisions without full FEC authorization. The trial was adjourned to a later date for continued cross-examination, as the case adds to renewed public scrutiny over the history, financing, and execution of the Mambilla Hydropower Project, often described as one of Nigeria’s most controversial infrastructure initiatives.

EFCC Witness Links Obasanjo to ₦17bn Mambilla Hydropower Budget