$6bn Mambilla case: Witness links FEC extract to SGF office, details EFCC request process

A PROSECUTION witness on Monday told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, that a key document connected to the disputed $6 billion Mambilla Power Project was traced to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Ugochukwu Christian Okoli, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), appeared in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power, Mr Olu Agunloye, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. The case is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption and the controversial award of the Mambilla Hydropower Project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Abba Mohammed, Mr Okoli told the court that he was seconded from the Federal Ministry of Justice and served as assistant legal adviser in the SGF’s office between 2022 and 2023.

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He stated that in September 2022, the SGF’s office received a formal request from the EFCC seeking extracts of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on May 21, 2003. The request focused on discussions around a memo submitted by Agunloye while he was minister of power, relating to the proposed 3,960-megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station under a build, operate and transfer model.

According to him, the EFCC also asked for confirmation on whether the FEC had approved the proposal.

Okoli explained that the request passed through official administrative channels, beginning from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, before being forwarded to the Permanent Secretary and later assigned to him in the Legal Department.

He said he reviewed the relevant records obtained from the Cabinet Affairs Office, which serves as the repository for FEC documents, and confirmed the existence of the file. He then recommended that the relevant portion of the minutes be certified.

“My recommendation was approved by the permanent secretary, after which a certified true copy of the extract containing the council’s deliberations and conclusions was prepared and endorsed by the head of department,” he told the court.

The witness further stated that the certified document was returned to the Cabinet Affairs Office, which issued a covering letter to the EFCC signed by Deputy Director, A.M. Oyinoye.

He added that it is standard procedure for the Cabinet Affairs Office to extract and circulate relevant portions of FEC minutes to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) after meetings.

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Okoli confirmed that he personally handled the EFCC request, compiled the documents, and ensured their transmission to the anti-graft agency.

During the hearing, he identified Exhibits 3C and 3E as the documents processed and forwarded in response to the EFCC’s request.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until April 30, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination