EFCC confirms ex-power minister Agunloye’s arrest
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of a former Minister of State for Power, Olu Agunloye, days after he was declared wanted.
According to a Channels Television, a source in EFCC confirmed that Agunloye has been in custody of the anti-graft body since December 13, 2023.
The source said: “He has been with the EFCC since December 13th. But it was not made public.”
About a week ago, the EFCC declared Agunloye wanted in connection with a $6 billion purported scam involving the contentious Mambilla hydropower project.
“The public is hereby notified that Olu Agunloye, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of corruption and forgery,” the EFCC posted.
Agunloye was a minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government (1999-2003). He has been at the centre of the controversy about the Mambilla project.
He was accused by Obasanjo of illegally awarding the project’s contract without the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) consent.
However, Agunloye refuted the charges and asserted that the outgoing president was falsifying information.
