Fraud allegations: EFCC lists Obasanjo’s minister Agunloye wanted

By Hannah Nathan, Warri

Olu Agunloye, a former minister of electricity and steel, has been listed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a wanted man due to allegations of a $6 billion fraud.

Between 1999 and 2003, Agunloye worked for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

This was announced by the anti-graft agency via a Facebook post in which it urged anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to contact the agency or the police.

The EFCC posted the following: “The EFCC is looking for Dr. U Agunloye. Do you know where he’s been? Do not hesitate to notify the closest Police Station or the EFCC.”

According to rumours, Agunloye was invited by the anti-graft agency to be questioned about his involvement in the $6 billion Mambila hydropower contract, but he declined.

The Mambilla power plant was approved while Agunloye was working for the former president, however, it is said that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was not consulted.

Obasanjo said in an interview that he had no idea who had given the contract.

In 2003, Obasanjo issued a challenge to Agunloye, asking him to explain to the Nigerian people from whence he obtained the power to grant Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd a $6 billion contract for the project.

In response, Agunloye stated that he oversaw the awarding of the build-operate-and-transfer contract in May 2003 for the Mambilla Power Project.