General
$6bn Mambilla Power Fraud: Obasanjo Denies Granting Project Approval
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an Abuja high court has tendered the statement made to it by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the trial of Mr Olu Agunloye, saying no consent was granted for the project.
Mr Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel under Mr Obasanjo, is being charged with infractions in the award of contract for Mambilla Hydropower Station in Taraba.
The former Minister is standing trial on an a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, disobeying presidential directive and gratification brought against him before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, of Apo high court.
In the charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, EFCC alleged that Mr Agunloye awarded contract for the Mambilla project on May 22, 2003 to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) without any budgetary provision, approval, and cash backing.
The commission also alleged that the former minister received N5.212million from SPTCL and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotirin through his Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) account to “convey” the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambilla power project in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.
The former minister, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
At the resumed hearing of the case , the third prosecution witness (PW3), Mr Umar Hussein Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police on secondment to EFCC told the court that former president Obasanjo, wrote a letter, dated Nov. 27, 2023, to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
He added that in the letter, he gave account of what transpired at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting of May 21, 2003 concerning the power project contract.
The witness said that EFCC subsequently wrote to the Federal Ministry of Justice, requesting for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the former president’s letter, which the ministry obliged the commission.
“We received the CTC of the document where the former president stated that he received a memorandum from the former Minister of Power.
He added that and he minuted on the document, directing minister to submit a memo to the Federal Executive Council for deliberation.
He said but, “he did not give approval to the minister for the award of the contract and neither was approval given at FEC meeting of May 21, 2003.”
The witness further informed the court that in the cause of the investigation,, the commission’s investigating team, met with Mr Obasanjo.
“We interviewed the former president and he later made a statement.
“In the cause of the interview, Obasanjo told us that he did not give approval to the defendant to award the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to SPTCL,” he said.
The prosecution counsel, Mr Abba Mohammed SAN, then tendered the former president’s statement as an exhibit in the case.
The defendant’s counsel, Mr Samuel Fagade, who represented the lead counsel, Mr Adeola Adedipe SAN, objected to the document though he did not state the grounds of object.
He, however, told the court that he was reserving it for the final argument in the case.
The former president’s statement was temporarily admitted as an exhibit by the court.
Giving the summary of their interview session with the former president, Mr Babangida told the court that Obasanjo told the investigating team that the former minister was directed by the FEC meeting of May 21, 2003 to withdraw his memorandum.
He added that the team was further told by Mr Obasanjo that the letter issued on May 22, 2003 by the then minister of power awarding the contract to SPTCL was not on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The witness further told the court that the investigating team then reviewed Agunloye’s financial records and discovered that he (defendant) operated several bank accounts, including one with the GT Bank.
He informed the court that Agunloye received money through his GT Bank account from one, Mr Sotirin Jide Abiodun.
He said he was a domestic personal assistant to Mr Leno Laitan Adesanya as well as staff member of companies belonging to Mr Adesanya and a director in Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
According to the witness, Mr Sotirin Abiodun transferred the sums of N3.6million; N500,000 and N1.1 million to Mr Agunloye’s account on August 10, 2019, October 22, 2019 and November 13, 2019 respectively.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned until June 18 for continuation of hearing.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says it recorded a 30 per cent reduction in gas imbalance on the country’s Western Network following the conclusion of its first-half 2026 Nigerian Gas Network Reconciliation (NGNR) Workshop.
The workshop brought together gas transporters, suppliers, shippers and off-takers to reconcile gas volumes traded between January and June 2026, while introducing a Network Entry/Exit Point Measurement Infrastructure Audit Template aimed at improving metering accuracy and accountability across the gas transmission network.
In a communiqué issued after the workshop, the authority said participants also reviewed the performance of the Nigerian Gas Transmission Network, assessed progress on major pipeline infrastructure projects, and received updates on the ELPS Gas Shrinkage Factor and Hydraulic Modelling Project.
Discussions focused on addressing metering gaps, improving network visibility through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) integration, and enhancing system reliability ahead of the commissioning of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline System.
The workshop adopted key resolutions, including the execution of outstanding Network Exit Agreements, mandatory submission of measurement audit templates and closer collaboration among industry stakeholders to improve network pressure management.
Speaking at the closing session on behalf of the authority’s chief executive, Mr Rabiu A. Umar, the Director of Transportation Systems and Networks, Mr Joseph G. Musa, said the biannual reconciliation exercise had become critical to promoting equitable gas transactions, transparency, investor confidence and efficient network operations.
Mr Musa noted that since the NGNR process was introduced in 2023, it had significantly improved gas measurement, strengthened regulatory compliance through consequence management, reduced operational imbalances and contributed to a more reliable domestic gas supply.
The workshop concluded with participants adopting the reconciled H1 2026 gas volumes, reaffirming the authority’s commitment to a transparent, efficient and reliable domestic gas market.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An investment that supports growing food and agriculture companies across Africa that strengthen agricultural value chains has been made by Swedfund.
The organisation is putting down about $12 million to strengthen climate resilience in African food systems through the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund II (ARAF II).
By improving access to markets, finance and essential services, these companies help smallholder farmers become more resilient to climate and economic shocks.
Over 30 million smallholder farmers operate across Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 80 per cent of all farms and producing 70 per cent of the region’s food (IFAD). Yet many face limited access to finance, quality inputs, reliable buyers and market information. At the same time, they are among those most exposed to climate change and weather-related shocks, which threaten harvests, incomes and food security.
The investment has an ambition to reach around four million smallholder farmers through ARAF II’s portfolio companies. It also aims to meet the criteria of the 2X Challenge, which promotes investments that support women’s economic empowerment.
ARAF II invests in businesses that address key gaps in agricultural value chains, from improving market access and reducing post-harvest losses to expanding financial and digital services for farmers. By helping these businesses grow, the investment aims to improve productivity, strengthen local value chains and increase the resilience of food systems.
Swedfund invests alongside other development finance institutions and investors to help mobilise long-term capital for businesses that often struggle to access financing despite their potential to strengthen food security, climate resilience and economic development across Africa.
“Climate change is already affecting the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers across Africa. Investing in businesses that improve access to markets, finance and agricultural services helps farmers strengthen their resilience, increase productivity and build more stable incomes. That is essential for more resilient food systems,” the Investment Director of Food Systems and Strategic Investments at Swedfund, Ms Helen Hagos, said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to order a probe into the alleged diversion, disappearance and misapplication of more than N6.79 billion in public funds within the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs.
The grave allegations are documented in the latest Annual Report of the Auditor-General of the Federation published on September 9, 2025.
SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible—including contractors, companies and public officials implicated in the report—should be promptly prosecuted, while all missing public funds, firearms and ammunition should be fully recovered, secured and properly accounted for.”
In the letter dated August 1, 2026, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The Auditor-General’s findings suggest a grave betrayal of the public trust and raise serious concerns about corruption and the management of public funds, police exhibits, firearms and ammunition.”
SERAP said: “The report also raises serious concerns over missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, creating significant risks to public safety and national security.”
According to the group, “The diversion of funds meant for policing, abandoned security projects, missing firearms and ammunition, and the misuse of police exhibits undermine the operational effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force, weaken public confidence and may contribute to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.”
The letter, read in part: “The report documented numerous alleged financial irregularities within the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Ministry of Police Affairs, including payments for projects that were never executed, abandoned contracts, inflated contract costs, and irregular procurement.”
“The report also documented unretired cash advances, unsettled insurance claims, payments for services allegedly not rendered, and other suspected diversion and misapplication of public funds amounting to over ₦6.79 billion.”
“The allegations also include missing firearms and ammunition, the unauthorised use and release of police exhibits, failures to properly account for recovered firearms and other exhibits, and the insecure storage of firearms, posing serious risks to public safety and national security.”
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”
Some of the others include: N499,875,500.00 for the construction of Police College Phase II, Bashar, Plateau State; N12,931,000.00 for the rehabilitation of Block B, Department of Logistics and Supply (Works) building, Garki; N111,635,864.64 for the construction of 12 one-bedroom transit camp units and rehabilitation of the administration block at the NPF Pre-retirement Skills Acquisition Centre, Kudana, Kaduna State; N4,011,627.89 inserted as taxes to inflate a contract; N1,938,299,452.00 for 14 ongoing projects that were abandoned; N5,050,000.00 in monetary exhibits released without proper authorisation; N112,026,424.00 for outstanding allowances paid to officers to cover 2020 liabilities; and N6,000,000.00 as annual payment to the Inspector General of Police’s Senior Special Assistant on Revenue and Tax Matters.
Others include N10,080,000.00 as cash advances for the provision of office equipment and accessories for the NPF Database Management Centre; N438,066,845.73 for the supply of bulletproof vests, ballistic helmets and procurement of a Styr Punch Vistar troop carrier; N18,000,000.00 for the training of women in cosmetology and provision of empowerment kits in Ondo Central Senatorial District, Ondo State; N258,989,999.75 for the procurement of 10 JAC patrol vehicles for NPF outpost stations in Kano State; N30,853,250.00 as security allowances for personnel attached to the Ministry of Police Affairs; N681,406,593.18 for the settlement of insurance claims through insurance brokers; N1,628,108,434.18 for outstanding insurance policy liabilities for 2020/2021; N57,484,515.30 for the procurement of video cameras, customised umbrellas, gift bags and customised towels for the Nigeria Police Force Public Relations Office; N7,760,409.56 in withholding tax and value added tax that was not deducted from contracts awarded.
