Ex-Minister Of Power, Agunloye Released On Bail In $6bn Mambilla Hydropower Case

Former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, has been released from the Kuje Correctional Centre upon fulfilling his bail conditions.

He was released on Friday at about 5:30 pm, according to Adamu Duza, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

Duza while confirming his release said, “Agunloye has been released from the prison after meeting his bail condition. He was released this evening around 5:30pm.”

Agunloye had been remanded in the Kuje Custodial Centre by a Federal High Court in Abuja due to a $6bn Mambilla hydropower contract.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against him in the Federal High Court, where he pleaded not guilty.

Subsequently, the judge ordered his remand in Kuje custodial centre until bail was granted.

The EFCC had previously declared Agunloye wanted for his alleged involvement in a $6bn power scheme related to the Mambilla hydropower project.

The EFCC also accused him of illegally awarding a contract for a 3,960 MW Mambilla hydroelectric power station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited without proper budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing.

Agunloye, who served as a minister between 1999 and 2003 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was also accused of receiving a corrupt kickback of N3.6m from the company to which he awarded the contract.

Despite the allegations, he pleaded not guilty when docked, and the court remanded him in Kuje prison pending a decision on his bail application.

The Mambilla hydropower project, initiated in 2003, has faced legal disputes and corruption allegations throughout its development.