€5.64 Billion Mambilla Power Project: Judge Rebukes Agunloye’s Lawyer For Delays In Court Proceedings
Jude Onwuegbuzie, a judge at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, has admonished Adeola Adedipe, counsel for former Minister of Power and Steel Olu Agunloye, on Thursday, citing “delay tactics” in the ongoing €5.64 billion Mambilla hydropower project trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is prosecuting Agunloye, released a statement noting that Judge Onwuegbuzie reprimanded the senior lawyer for recurrently invoking Agunloye’s health and age as reasons for adjournments and filing motions that have impeded case progression. “My principle of justice is that of no delay,” the judge stated, referencing prior motions, such as the request for an amicus curiae, which the judge deemed unnecessary and time-consuming.
The judge emphasised courtroom procedure, saying, “If you need time to serve processes, it must reach me on time, and your colleague must also be duly aware in time. There must be mutual respect. Do not come and serve processes in court; I don’t take that in my court.”
During the session, the prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed, requested an adjournment to review counter-affidavits submitted by the defence opposing a charge amendment request. Judge Onwuegbuzie then adjourned the case until November 28, when a ruling on the application is expected.
The EFCC is prosecuting Agunloye over allegations of improperly awarding a €5.64 billion contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd. in 2003 for the Mambilla hydropower project. The anti-corruption agency claims that suspicious payments were traced from Sunrise Power to Agunloye’s bank accounts. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo previously questioned the former minister’s authority to approve such a contract.
In January, Agunloye was arraigned by the EFCC on a seven-count charge related to contract fraud and official corruption and was subsequently granted bail set at N50 million.
