Dr. Olu Agunloye, who served as Minister of Power and Steel from 2002 to 2003 during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, has accused the former president of intentionally spreading misinformation to shield his errors on the Mambilla power project.
The allegations revolve a Build, Operate and Transfer, BOT, contract awarded to Sunrise Power Company by Agunloye in 2003, which is now the subject of legal and arbitration disputes.
READ ALSO: Nigeria faces high stakes in Mambilla project arbitration
Dr. Agunloye, who currently holds the position of National Secretary for the Social Democratic Party, is facing a seven-count charge from the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN, at the FCT High Court concerning the contract.
There has been speculation about whether he would testify at the International Arbitration Court of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris, where Nigeria is engaged in a legal battle with Sunrise Power Company.
In a recent statement, Agunloye dismissed these rumors, saying:
“I have no plans for Paris. Nigeria is not at arbitration because of me or the 2003 BOT contract I awarded.
“The government seeks to use me as a scapegoat to portray systemic corruption to the arbitration panel and undermine Sunrise’s claims.”
Background and Alleged Distortions
Agunloye attributed his current predicament to personal conflicts between President Obasanjo and two of his allies—former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Leno Adesanya, the owner of Sunrise Power Company.
He alleged that Obasanjo pretended to be unaware of the BOT contract while in office and later distorted its details in public and judicial forums.
Agunloye also pointed out that the ongoing arbitration in France is a result of actions taken by subsequent administrations, particularly under President Buhari.
In 2017, then-Minister of Power Babatunde Fashola bypassed a 2012 agreement signed under President Goodluck Jonathan with Sunrise Power and awarded the project to another company.
Despite receiving advice from the Chinese government to settle the dispute amicably, the FGN did not honor two separate settlement agreements, forcing Sunrise to pursue arbitration.
Criticism of the Government’s Approach
Agunloye accused the FGN of employing a strategy of criminalization to strengthen its position in arbitration. He claimed that false corruption allegations and fabricated evidence are being used to discredit him and other individuals associated with the project.
“The government is spreading misinformation and using me as a pawn to divert attention from the actions of its own officials and four former presidents who handled the project over two decades,” he stated.
Sequence of Events
2003–2007: During Obasanjo’s administration, the BOT contract was overlooked, new procurement laws were implemented and a $1.4 billion subcontract for the Mambilla project was awarded on the last day of his tenure.
2007–2010: President Yar’Adua endorsed the BOT contract in 2007 but canceled Obasanjo’s subcontract in 2008 and later re-awarded the project to Sunrise.
2012: President Jonathan’s administration signed a General Project Execution Agreement, GPEA, with Sunrise Power and its Chinese partners.
2015–2017: Under President Buhari, Fashola ignored directives to uphold the GPEA and re-awarded the project, sparking arbitration proceedings.
Legal and Arbitration Challenges
Agunloye criticized the FGN for its poor handling of the arbitration process and its decision to criminalize him prematurely.
He mentioned efforts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to link him to bribery allegations retroactively, which witnesses failed to corroborate during court proceedings.
Meanwhile, former Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari are expected to testify in Paris, where they may inadvertently undermine their own administrations by highlighting corruption and governance issues in Nigeria.
Crediblenewsng.com
