The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the alleged fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract continued on Thursday with a prosecution witness defending the authenticity of a key government document presented as evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The proceedings took place before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.
Agunloye is facing a seven-count amended charge bordering on alleged official corruption and the controversial award of the Mambilla Power Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
Witness Rejects Claims of Alternative FEC Record
During cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), the sixth prosecution witness, Iliya John Iyakwari, maintained that there was no alternative version of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting record of May 21, 2003 apart from the document already admitted as evidence.
The witness, who previously served as an Assistant Director (Legal) in the Federal Ministry of Justice, insisted that the certified extract marked Exhibit EFCC 3K accurately reflected the official record.
His testimony came as the defence sought to challenge the credibility and significance of documents relied upon by the prosecution.
Legal Dispute Over Court Exhibit
A brief legal argument also arose during the proceedings after the defence attempted to question the witness on another document marked Exhibit EFCC 3D.
Prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed (SAN), objected, arguing that the witness could not be cross-examined on a document he neither authored nor presented before the court.
