Abuja, Nigeria – In a dramatic turn of events at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, a prosecution witness called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has admitted to lying under oath during the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, over the controversial $6 billion Mambilla Hydropower Contract.
The witness, who was testifying as the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), made the stunning confession while being cross-examined by Agunloye’s lead counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN. The witness conceded that portions of his sworn statement before the court were false, deliberately misleading, and made at the instruction of his handlers within the anti-graft agency.
Agunloye is standing trial on charges of corruption, contract fraud, and disobedience of presidential directives relating to the award of the Mambilla contract in 2003 without due process. He has consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that all actions taken were within his official capacity and approved by the Federal Executive Council at the time.
On Tuesday, the witness—whose identity was withheld from the press for security reasons—initially attempted to stand by his earlier deposition. However, under rigorous cross-examination, he broke down and admitted that he had fabricated key details.
"I lied under oath, my lord. I was asked to state that the defendant personally signed the contract without authorization, but that was not true," the witness reportedly told the court. "I was told to say so because they wanted to secure a conviction."
When asked who directed him to lie, the witness pointed to operatives of the EFCC who he said had coached him prior to his testimony. He added that he was promised protection and potential leniency in unrelated matters in exchange for his false testimony.
Presiding Judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, described the development as "deeply troubling" and ordered the EFCC to produce full records of all pre-trial discussions with the witness. The judge also directed that the witness be held in custody pending further hearings, warning that perjury carries severe penalties under Nigerian law.
Reacting to the admission, Agunloye's counsel, Adedipe, SAN, called for the immediate dismissal of the charges against his client, arguing that the prosecution's case had been fatally compromised.
"This is not a minor inconsistency. The EFCC's star witness has confessed to deliberate falsehood. The entire foundation of this trial now crumbles," Adedipe told journalists outside the courtroom.
In a surprising response, the EFCC's lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, attempted to distance the commission from the witness's claims, stating that the agency does not condone false testimony. However, he declined to answer whether the witness had indeed been coached.
The Mambilla project, Nigeria's largest potential hydroelectric facility, has been mired in controversy for over two decades. The current trial is seen as a test case for the government's commitment to prosecuting high-profile corruption cases.
Legal analysts noted that the witness's admission could not only lead to his own prosecution for perjury but might also derail the EFCC's case entirely, potentially resulting in Agunloye's discharge and acquittal.
The case has been adjourned to June 30, 2026, for the court to rule on a motion for the discharge of the accused, following the witness's recantation.
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This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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