The trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, over the controversial $6 billion Mambilla Power Project contract continued on Monday as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its fifth prosecution witness before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja.

Agunloye is facing an amended seven-count charge bordering on alleged official corruption and fraudulent contract award connected to the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract awarded to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

The matter is being heard before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie.

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At the resumed hearing on June 1, 2026, the EFCC called Iliya John Iyakwari, an Assistant Director of Legal in the Federal Ministry of Justice and current Assistant Legal Adviser in the Federal Ministry of Power, as its fifth prosecution witness.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, Iyakwari informed the court that he joined the ministry in August 2014.

The witness stated that he certified an extract of the minutes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on May 21, 2003, after receiving a request from the EFCC in June 2023.

According to him, the anti-graft agency’s request was initially addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power before being transferred to the Legal Services Department for processing.

Iyakwari explained that the Legal Services Department subsequently contacted the department responsible for handling official records and obtained the requested FEC extract.

“The Permanent Secretary forwarded the letter to the Legal Service department, requesting the information on the letter. The legal department wrote to the department that handles such matters to give us the extract, and they forwarded the copy of the said extract, where my legal adviser asked me to certify the copy, and I forwarded the certified copy of the extract using our official letterhead to the EFCC,” the witness told the court.

During the proceedings, the witness identified the EFCC’s request letter, which was admitted as Exhibit EFCC 3J, alongside the Ministry of Power’s reply letter marked as Exhibit EFCC 3K.

Iyakwari confirmed both documents as authentic copies.

Following the testimony, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter until June 8, 2026, for the cross-examination of the witness.

The trial of Agunloye is tied to the long-running controversy surrounding the Mambilla Power Project, one of Nigeria’s largest proposed hydroelectric projects.

The project, valued at approximately $6 billion, has faced years of legal disputes, delays, and allegations surrounding its contract award process.

The case has continued to attract public attention because of the massive financial implications attached to the project and its significance to Nigeria’s power sector development.