Imoke Tells Court FEC Never Approved Sunrise Power Contract for Mambilla Project

By: Tunji Okunlola

Former Minister of Power and Steel Liyel Imoke has told an Abuja court that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) did not approve a memorandum recommending that the $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project contract be awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.

Imoke testified on Monday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, as the sixth prosecution witness in the trial of his predecessor, Olu Agunloye. He said the council instead directed that the memorandum be withdrawn and that further proposals be sought to explore investment options for the project.

Agunloye, who was Minister of Power and Steel from 2002 to 2003, faces an amended seven-count charge relating to alleged official corruption and the fraudulent award of the Mambilla contract to Sunrise Power. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Imoke’s evidence

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel Abba Mohammed, SAN, Imoke said he succeeded Agunloye and served as minister from August 2003 to November 2006. He said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited him in 2023 to explain a letter he wrote to Sunrise Power on 3 September 2003 about the company’s request for payment over the project.

After reviewing the file, he said he found an extract of FEC meeting minutes showing that the council had told Agunloye to withdraw his memorandum and invite more proposals. He said the instruction was meant to allow constructive negotiations and give the government room to explore different investment options.

“I informed them that the Federal Executive Council did not approve the memo that was presented by the defendant recommending the award of contract for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project to Sunrise,” Imoke told the court, according to the EFCC.

He said his September 2003 letter was a reply to the company’s enquiry and request for payment. The court showed him a statement he made to the EFCC on 24 May 2023. He confirmed making it and identified the letter to Sunrise Power as one he wrote and signed.

Cross-examination

Under cross-examination by defence counsel Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Imoke was asked why he did not cancel the contract after learning that it had allegedly been awarded without FEC approval. He answered that there was no need to cancel a contract the council had never approved.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned the trial to 2, 4, 9 and 11 November 2026.