EFCC Witness Links Obasanjo to Secret ₦11bn Padding of Mambilla Project
EFCC Witness Links Obasanjo to Secret ₦11bn Padding of Mambilla Project
An EFCC prosecution witness, Umar Babangida, has delivered explosive testimony in the trial of former Power Minister Dr. Olu Agunloye, alleging that former President Olusegun Obasanjo personally ordered a secret ₦11 billion “top-up” for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
According to the investigator, Obasanjo held a private late-night meeting with Agunloye on May 20, 2003, where he explicitly directed the minister to add the funds to an existing ₦6 billion budget, effectively pushing the total to ₦17 billion via presidential decree to kick-start the long-delayed project at all costs.
This revelation has shifted the focus of the ongoing trial at the FCT High Court, as it suggests that the former President was deeply hands-on in the decision-making process before Agunloye even fully assumed office.
While the former minister is currently facing charges related to the allegedly fraudulent award of a $6 billion contract to Sunrise Power, this testimony implies that the foundational financial directives and contract approvals originated directly from the presidency rather than through standard ministerial or legislative channels.
The testimony further reveals that Obasanjo’s involvement extended beyond simple budget inflation; he reportedly pre-approved specific contract details and set strict limits on government equity participation.
This level of executive interference is now being scrutinized as a primary factor in how the 3,050MW hydropower giant became Nigeria’s most expensive “white elephant.” Despite billions in reported spending and decades of legal disputes, the project has yet to produce a single megawatt of electricity for the national grid.
The news has sparked a massive public outcry across Nigeria, with many questioning the legality of a president bypassing the National Assembly to inflate a project budget.
Social media is buzzing with demands for broader accountability, as citizens ask why only the minister is standing trial if the actions were taken under direct presidential orders.
The disappearance of these funds, coupled with the continued failure of the Mambilla project, has reignited frustrations over the country’s persistent power outages and historical infrastructure scandals.
As the trial continues, this testimony has effectively dragged the Obasanjo administration back into the spotlight regarding one of Nigeria’s most significant financial and developmental failures.
The court proceedings are expected to uncover more details about the flow of funds and whether the ₦11 billion directive followed due process.
For now, the “Mambilla mess” remains a central symbol of administrative opacity, leaving Nigerians to wonder if the truth behind the missing billions will ever lead to full recovery or power generation.
