Crime
Court Adjourns Till April 20 In Alleged $6bn Mambila Power Fraud
Court Adjourns Till April 20 In Alleged $6bn Mambila Power Fraud
Alleged $6bn Mambila power fraud. Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of a Federal High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja has adjourned proceedings in the trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye till April 20, 2026
The former minister is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars) to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.
At Monday`s proceedings, Third Prosecution Witness, PW3, Umar Hussein Babangida during re-examination by prosecuting counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, clarified that the investigation team invited three former Attorney Generals of the Federation, Micheal Aondokaa, SAN, Abubakar Malami, SAN and Kanu Agabi, SAN and they volunteered their statements. Both Aondokaa and Malami offered written statements but Agabi volunteered an oral statement.
He added that Agabi told the investigating team that he cannot recall the details and outcome of the Federal Executive Council meeting at that time but advised we rely on documents obtained from the office of the Secretary of the Federation.
However, counsel to the defendant, Samuel Falade objected to the testimony of Babangida, describing it as incompetent. His submission was that the witness was making statements of another person who had not been called to give evidence and that Babangida never mentioned or presented the evidence of the AGFs during his testimony in chief, regarding it as a fresh matter for debate.
Responding, the EFCC’s counsel referred to Section 215 sub section 3 of the Evidence Act, which made it clear that re- examination is not limited to clarity only. “The position of the law in re-examination shall be directed to the explanation of matters referred in cross examination as confirmed by the Supreme Court in the cases of Aigbadion vs State 2000 for SCNJ page 1”, he said.
“ My lord in that case, the Supreme Court held that the re-examination of a witness goes beyond explaining matters referred in. The court of Appeal reinstated this position in Mohammed vs Gbugbu and others reported in 2018 LPEFR 44494 Court of Appeal. They also held that among other things, re-examination is an avenue for a witness to state the whole truth of any matter which was not dealt with in examination’
“ Now that the witness has the right to explain and clarify matters on 17 February 2026, which was the foundation date of this question seeking explanation, where he was asked about the opinion given by Malami and Aondokaa which he gave answers for the first time while they were serving as AGFs, this was not part of his evidence- in -chief. Secondly on 24 of November 2025, the same defence asked the PW3 series of questions on Kanu Agabi”. It is necessary for the witness to explain that part before your lordship”, he said.
He concluded by stating that re-examination is for re-explanation of matters referred to in cross examination, suggesting that the questions stemmed out of cross examination from the defence.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Onwuegbuzie upheld the position of the prosecution, allowing the witness to continue with his testimony.
Continuing, Babangida said “Mr Aondokaa, SAN stated that if he had seen the conclusion of the FEC meeting he would have not given any legal opinion. While Malami, SAN said he relied on the legal opinion of Mr Aondokaaa”
Court
Mohammed further asked, “ on March, 11 2026, March 16, 2026, during your cross examination by the defence, you were asked to confirm Exhibit EFCC 3K and EFCC 3D are extracts of the FEC meeting of 21 May 2003, explain what is an extract”.
Responding, Babangida explained that “Exhibit EFCC 3K is an extract that contains only the deliberation on Mambilla Hydro Electricity based on the memo submitted by the defendant to the FEC, which contains deliberation, resolution and directives to the defendant. While Exhibit EFCC 3D is an extract that contains deliberation of other ministries other than that of the ministry of the defendant which showed deliberations of ministries before the defendant, the ministry of the defendant in question and deliberations of the ministries after that of the defendant”
After listening to the submissions, Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to April 20, 2026 for continuation of trial.
EFCC Arrests Suspects, Uncovers Alleged Employment Scam Syndicate In Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC has arrested one Bolaji Kazeem Akinwunmi, popularly known as “Bolaji Original,” for allegedly defrauding unsuspecting job seekers of the sum of ₦2,921,700 (Two Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira Only).
EFCC
Akinwunmi was arrested alongside his accomplice and former lover, Kemisola Mary Akinbo. Investigations revealed that Akinwunmi, at different times, posed as an officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service, falsely claiming he had access to employment slots for interested applicants.
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EFCC Re- Arraigns Nadabo Energy Boss, Ali Peters, Firm In Lagos In Alleged N1.4bn Oil Fraud
Alleged N1.4bn Oil Fraud. The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, re-arraigned Nadabo Energy Boss, Abubakar Ali Peters, for an alleged N1.4 billion oil fraud before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
Peters alongside his company, Nadabo Energy Limited, was previously standing trial before Justice C.A. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
However, the matter was re-assigned to Justice Ijelu, following Justice Balogun’s retirement.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 27-count charge bordering on the alleged use of forged documents to obtain the sum of N1,464,961,978.24 from the Federal Government as oil subsidy.
One of the counts reads: “Nadabo Energy Limited and Abubakar Ali Peters, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2012, at Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N978,401,732.09 (Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million Four Hundred and One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-two Naira Nine Kobo) from the Federal Government of Nigeria by falsely claiming that the sum represented subsidy accrued to Nadabo Energy Limited under the Petroleum Support Fund for the importation of 19,488,992 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which Nadabo Energy Limited purported to have purchased from Ashland SA Geneva Switzerland, and transported the 19,488,992 litres of PMS through MT American Express (Mother Vessel) and MT St. Vanessa (Daughter Vessel) to Nigeria, whereas Nadabo Energy Limited only imported 6,505,140.04 litres of PMS to Nigeria through MT Evridiki (Mother Vessel) and MT St Vanessa (Daughter Vessel).”
Another count reads: “Nadabo Energy Limited and Abubakar Ali Peters, on or about the 25th day of October 2011, at Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division, with intent to defraud, and in order to facilitate your obtaining money by false pretence from the Federal Government of Nigeria under the Petroleum Support Fund (PSF), forged a document titled: Certificate of Marine Insurance no. 0047851 and purported the Marine Insurance certificate to have been issued by Staco Insurance Plc to Nadabo Energy Limited.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, S.K. Atteh, asked for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be reminded in a Correctional centre.
Responding, defence counsel, E.O. Isiramen, objected to the prosecution’s prayer for the remand of the defendant.
He argued that the defendant was granted bail on December 19, 2012, and had perfected the bail conditions.
He also submitted that his client had never jumped bail since then, and prayed the court to allow the defendant to continue on his existing bail.
Fraud
Justice Ijelu ruled that the defendant should continue on the existing bail.
The sureties were ordered to appear in court on the next adjourned date to undertake that they would continue to act as his sureties.
The judge also ordered the lawyer to sign an undertaking to produce the defendant on the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned till May 19, 20 and 21, 2026 for the commencement of trial.
High Court Grants Final Forfeiture Of N3bn, Properties Linked To NNPC Official
Justice J.O Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 has granted the final forfeiture of N3,444,000.,000 ( Three Billion, Four hundred and Forty Four Million Naira) and three properties linked to Salihu Nuhu Jamari while serving as the Managing Director of, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s Gas and Power Investment Company Limited.
The properties include ; an uncompleted six bedroom semi-detached duplex, with boys’ quarters at Plot 3168, Asokoro District, Abuja, a two bedroom flat, block 2, apartment AI, block, EFG, Orsborne II, Ikoyi, Lagos and a restaurant located at plot 102 cadastral zone C09, Lokogoma District, Abuja.
The judge gave the order, following a motion on notice filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on March 17, 2026 through its counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, SAN.
The court had on February 25, 2026, granted an interim forfeiture order, directing that the publication of the same be made in a national newspaper for any interested party to show cause why the said exhibits should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.
The said money ( Three Billion, Four hundred and Forty Four Million Naira) forms part of a case of conspiracy, kickbacks, bribery and money laundering, involving the staff and contractors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wherein the name of one Salihu Nuhu Jamari featured prominently through a petition dated April 28, 2025.
Court
Upon receipt of the petition, several investigative activities were carried out where it was discovered that Jamari, while serving as Managing Director of NGPIC used his influence through his private companies namely: Cumulus Energy Limited and Pius and Phillips Petroleum Limited wherein he is a director and signatory to the accounts, received kickbacks from three contractors that were awarded three major projects from NNPCL.
Justice Abdulmalik, after considering the application, held that it had merit and ordered the final forfeiture of the assets to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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