The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has announced that it has released, on bail, a former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, after hold him for one week.
The anti-graft agency had, on December 13, 2023, declared Dr. Agunloye wanted for his alleged role in the over $6 billion fraud related to the controversial Mambilla hydropower project.
He reported at the EFCC headquarters the following day and was promptly taken into custody.
Channels Television informed Nigerians about Agunloye’s release during its prime time news bulletin, Wednesday night, recalling that the EFCC, while declaring Dr. Agunloye wanted, had urged whoever “with useful information as to his whereabouts” to contact the agency.
The TV station also recalled that the anti-graft agency had questioned the former minister over the same issue in September.
Agunloye served as Minister in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government between 1999 and 2003. He has been at the centre of the controversy surrounding the Mambilla hydropower project.
Obasanjo may have provided the fuel to roast Agunloye having accused him of fraudulently and unilaterally awarding the multi-billion naira contract for the project without approval by the Federal Executive Council, FEC.
But Agunloye had consistently denied the allegation, accusing the former President of distorting facts.