Witness Explains FEC Document Certification in Alleged $6bn Mambilla Project Fraud Trial
By Twisdic Info Reports
Proceedings in the ongoing trial over the alleged $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project fraud took a significant turn on Wednesday as the fifth prosecution witness clarified circumstances surrounding the certification of extracts from a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting linked to the case.
The witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, appeared before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja, where he explained the process that led to the certification of the FEC meeting extracts requested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the Mambilla Power Project contract worth $6 billion to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Iyakwari, an Assistant Director of Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice currently serving as an Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, testified that the EFCC initially requested certified extracts of the minutes of the May 21, 2003 FEC meeting in July 2023.
According to him, the documents first sent to the anti-graft agency were not certified, prompting the Commission to return them for proper authentication.
"It was after the EFCC received the documents in July 2023 that they discovered the extract had not been certified. In January 2024, an EFCC staff member identified as Babangida returned the documents to my director and pointed out the omission," Iyakwari told the court.
He explained that his director subsequently instructed him to certify the documents, leading to the certification dated January 26, 2024.
"The reason the certification date differs from the forwarding date is because I mistakenly stamped the original forwarding letter during the certification process. After completing the certification, I returned the documents to my director, who I believe handed them back to the EFCC officer," he said.
The clarification came after the defence questioned what appeared to be inconsistencies in the witness's earlier testimony regarding the timeline of the certification process.
However, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, defended the witness's testimony, insisting that there was no contradiction in the evidence presented before the court.
"My lord, the witness merely summarized the sequence of events that occurred in 2023. He never stated that the certification itself was carried out in 2023. The court records clearly reflect this position," Mohammed argued, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and urging the court to rely on its official records.
Further tension arose when the defence sought to question the witness on whether the document previously tendered in court by an EFCC officer, Babangida, differed from the extract he certified.
The prosecution objected, maintaining that Iyakwari could not testify on evidence introduced through another witness since he was not present during that testimony. Mohammed cited the Supreme Court decision in Buhari vs INEC & Others (2008) to support his argument.
Following submissions from both parties, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 18 and July 2, 2026, for the continuation of trial proceedings.
Twisdic Info Reports understands that the Mambilla Power Project case remains one of Nigeria's most closely watched corruption trials, with prosecutors seeking to establish whether due process was followed in the award of the multi-billion-dollar contract, while the defence continues to challenge the evidence presented before the court