Alleged $6bn Mambilla Fraud: Court Grants EFCC`s Move To Amend Charges Against Agunloye
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of , the Federal High Court,  , FCT sitting in Apo, Abuja on Thursday, granted the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to amend charges brought against , a former , Minister , of Power, Olu Agunloye and make him take his plea.
Agunloye is facing a $6 billion contract dispute with the   and EFCC on seven counts that allege official corruption and fraudulent awarding of the Mambilla Power Project.
Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed S (AN), earlier on July 1st, 2024, urged the court to accept the amended charge and request that the defendant use Sections 216 and 217 of the 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Act to support his plea.
The EFCC’s statement on Thursday stated that the defense attorney, Adeola Adedipe (SAN), must first be formally requested and obtained before the commission can amend its charge.
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The court directed parties in response to the court’s request to provide the court with evidence in support of the defense of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Bovoa v. FRN &, Anor (2017). The judge held that an amendment was not intended to overreach the defendant and infringe on him, and that a court may permit an alteration or amendment to a charge or framing of a new charge at any time before judgment is rendered.
The court has decided that the defendant must submit his plea on the amended or modified charge, and that the learned counsel’s arguments are hereby discounted in the final decision. I therefore hold that the application is liable to succeed accordingly.
Source: Channels TV
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