Court Slams Delay Tactics in $6bn Fraud Trial of Former Minister Agunloye

A Federal High Court judge in Abuja has sharply criticised the defence counsel representing former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, for using delay tactics to hinder progress in his ongoing trial for alleged corruption.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie expressed his frustration with the conduct of Adeola Adedipe, SAN, who is defending Agunloye in the case brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Agunloye is facing seven counts of official corruption and fraud related to the award of the Mambilla Power Project contract, a deal valued at a staggering $6 billion. The trial, which has attracted significant public and media attention, has been delayed multiple times, with defence motions and repeated claims about the defendant’s health and age reportedly contributing to the holdup.

During Thursday’s proceedings, November 14, 2024, Justice Onwuegbuzie took issue with Adedipe’s repeated requests for adjournments and motions. The judge highlighted that such delays were preventing the case from advancing and called for a more efficient process.

“My principle of justice is that of no delay,” Justice Onwuegbuzie said firmly. “You have previously raised the issue of amicus curiae, wasting the time of the court, and I will not tolerate further delays in this case. If you need time to serve documents, it must be done properly and promptly, and all parties must be notified in advance. There must be mutual respect for the process.”

The trial took another turn when Prosecuting Counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, sought to move forward with the adoption of an application to amend the charges, which had been filed on October 30, 2024. However, the defence countered with a fresh affidavit and requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution time to review the document.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to November 28, 2024, when he is expected to rule on the adoption of the application and whether the charges should be amended.

The trial of Agunloye, who served as Minister of Power under the previous administration, has been a focus of the EFCC’s ongoing efforts to crack down on high-level corruption in Nigeria’s public sector. The allegations surrounding the Mambilla Power Project, one of Nigeria’s largest energy contracts, have raised concerns about the management of public funds and the accountability of officials involved in major infrastructure projects.

As the case continues, all eyes are on the court’s handling of the delays and whether the defence will be able to prolong the proceedings or if the trial will finally move forward.