The ghost of the Mambilla Power Project continues to haunt Nigerias political elite.In a damning testimony delivered in an Abuja court, a star witness has accused former Minister Olu Agunloye of flagrantly disregarding a direct presidential order from Olusegun Obasanjo, allegedly inflating government liability in the $6 billion (Ksh 780 billion) mega-project.

The trial, which has captivated the region, centres on how a project meant to power a nation became a vehicle for alleged colossal fraud. Umar Babangida, an Assistant Commissioner of Police and EFCC investigator, took the stand to unravel a web of intrigue dating back to 2003.

"Do Not Exceed 25%"

The crux of the prosecutions case is a specific directive from then-President Obasanjo. The court heard that Obasanjo had explicitly capped the Federal Governments equity participation at 25%. However, Agunloye is accused of unilaterally committing the government to a higher stake, thereby exposing the treasury to billions in potential debt.

"The Presidents utmost desire was to kick-start the project," Babangida testified, "but not at any cost. The directive was clear: cap the equity. The Minister did otherwise."

• The Private Meeting: The court was told of a clandestine meeting between Agunloye and Obasanjo on the night of May 20, 2003, just hours before a critical Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. What was said in that room remains the subject of fierce legal debate.
• The "Forged" Letter: Agunloye faces charges of forging a letter titled "Construction of 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station" to retroactively validate his actions—a charge he vehemently denies.
• A Legacy of Darkness: As the lawyers argue over memos from two decades ago, the Mambilla project remains unbuilt, a white elephant that has swallowed billions while millions of Nigerians—and by extension, the West African power pool—remain in darkness.

Accountability on Trial

The defence argues that Agunloye acted within his discretionary powers to save a dying deal. But the EFCC insists this was not discretion; it was insubordination with a price tag.

As the trial continues, it serves as a grim autopsy of why Africa’s infrastructure dreams so often die in the filing cabinets of powerful men.