The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Adewale Agunbiade, has disclosed how former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, allegedly received ₦5.2 million in various transfers and ATM withdrawals from Jide Sotirin Abiodun, an employee of Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd.
Agunloye is facing prosecution by the EFCC on seven-count charges related to corruption and the fraudulent award of the $6 billion Mambila Power Project contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd.
Testifying before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, Agunbiade, a Compliance Officer with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), revealed that in October 2022, the bank responded to an EFCC inquiry concerning the accounts of Agunloye and Sotirin.
The witness presented account statements showing six transactions on September 10, 2019, including five ATM withdrawals of ₦30,000 each and a ₦3.6 million transfer from Jide Sotirin to Agunloye.
“On page two of Exhibit 2b is the statement of Jide Sotirin Abiodun and the Certificate of Identification prepared by me on the statement of the account. On the 10th of September 2019, there were six transactions.
“The last five transactions were ATM cash withdrawals of ₦30,000 (Thirty Thousand Naira) each. The last transaction on 10 August 2019 was a transfer of ₦3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloy,” he said.
Agunbiade further revealed that Agunloye received several other significant financial transfers throughout 2019.
On October 22, 2019, Agunloye received ₦500,000 from Sotirin Jide Abiodun, followed by a ₦1,121,000 transfer from Leno on November 13, 2019, also linked to Sotirin.
He reiterated that these transactions were part of a broader pattern of financial exchanges, showing evidence of the ₦3.6 million transfer on August 10, 2019, and further inflows of ₦500,000 and ₦1,121,000 on subsequent dates.
Agunbiade stated, “As of 22 October 2019, a record of ₦500,000.00 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) was transferred from Sotirin Jide Abiodun to Olu Agunloye. On 13 November 2019, a record of ₦1,121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) from Leno in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.
“On 10 August 2019 was an inward transfer of ₦3,600,000.00 (Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotinrin Jide Abiodun. On 22 October 2019, there was an inflow of ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from Sotirin Jide Abiodun. Also on 13th November 2019 was an inflow of ₦1,121,000 (One Million One Hundred and Twenty-one Thousand Naira) in favour of Agunloye Olu from Jide Sotirin.”
The case has been adjourned until October 21, 2024, for cross-examination.
