Afrigather Olu Agunloye, Nigeria’s energy minister, has discovered himself at odds with the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) following his arraignment on fees associated to the controversial $6 billion Mambilla hydropower mission.
Agunloye maintains his innocence, arguing that the accusations in opposition to him don’t represent monetary crimes and subsequently fall outdoors the EFCC’s jurisdiction.
He stated, “The alleged offences on this cost, trouble on my actions as a public officer, on the alleged award of contract with out budgetary provision, approval and money backing.”
“It additionally bothers on alleged disobedience of the directives of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and forgery of a letter dated twenty second Could 2003.
“These allegations don’t represent monetary crimes, which may be lawfully investigated and prosecuted by the EFCC, beneath its powers beneath Sections 6, 7 and 46 of the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (Institution) Act and in consonance with the Supreme Court docket’s resolution in Nwobike v. Federal Republic of Nigeria (2022) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1826) 293.
“Not having the obligatory statutory powers to analyze the allegations on this cost ab initio, I do know that the purported investigation and present prosecution of this Cost by the EFCC is extremely vires its powers,” Agunloye stated.
He additionally stated he’s outdated and will endure terrifying procedural irregularities that may be rectified early.
“I’m an outdated man of 76 years outdated, who ought to not be subjected to harrowing basic procedural anomalies that may be resolved at an early stage,” Agunloye stated.
“It will likely be truthful and only for this honourable court docket to first decide and render a call on this threshold challenge of EFCC’s competence to analyze and prosecute this case. It’s within the curiosity of justice to grant this utility.”
Moreover, he’s asking for a right away dismissal of the costs in opposition to him.
Jude Onwuegbuzie, the presiding decide, said on the Monday court docket session that the applying was not prepared for a listening to, and postponed the listening to to February 26.
