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The trial of former Minister of Energy, Olu Agunloye, continued on Thursday, June 18, 2026 before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja with the sixth prosecution witness, PW6, Iliya John Iyakwari, denying, under cross-examination by defense counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, that there is an extract of the Federal Executive Council meeting of the 21st May, 2003, other than that, marked by the EFCC 3K exhibit certified by him and submitted as evidence by the prosecution.
Agunloye is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended charge of seven counts, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract amounting to US$6 billion (six billion US dollars) to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
Later in cross-examination, the defense lawyer requested that the EFCC 3D exhibit be shown to the witness which met with an objection from the prosecuting lawyer, Abba Mohammed, SAN on the grounds that the witness cannot be cross-examined on a document of which he is not the author.
“My Lord, our objection is anchored on the authority of the Supreme Court in the case of Buhari v INEC and others. I object to this application because this witness is not the manufacturer, nor was it made through him. We also rely on Palladium Mining Ltd & Gekpan Nigeria Limited 2003,” he said.
Thursday’s proceedings concluded with the cross-examination of the witness, a former deputy director of the legal department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, now serving as an assistant legal advisor at the Federal Ministry of Energy.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to July 2, 2026 for further hearing.
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