$6bn Mambilla Scandal: Imoke Reveals FEC Never Approved Contract
Former Power Minister Liyel Imoke tells Abuja court that the Federal Executive Council never approved the controversial Mambilla project contract, deepening scrutiny of the multibillion-dollar agreement.
Fresh revelations have emerged in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, over the controversial $6 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, as his successor, Senator Liyel Imoke, told an Abuja court that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) never approved the contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
The testimony has reopened questions about due process, ministerial authority and accountability in the handling of one of Nigeria’s most controversial electricity projects, which has remained entangled in legal disputes for more than two decades despite its enormous potential to improve the country’s electricity supply.
Appearing before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, on Monday, October 19, 2026, Imoke, a former governor of Cross River State, maintained that the contract allegedly awarded during Agunloye’s tenure lacked the necessary approval of the Federal Executive Council under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Imoke, who appeared as the sixth prosecution witness in the case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), explained that the FEC had directed the withdrawal of the memorandum recommending the award of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project to Sunrise Power. According to him, the council instead instructed the ministry to invite additional proposals and explore alternative investment arrangements before proceeding with the project.
The former minister disclosed that he became aware of the circumstances surrounding the disputed contract after receiving a letter from Sunrise Power requesting payment in connection with the project. He subsequently examined the relevant ministry files and discovered records of the Federal Executive Council’s deliberations, which, according to his testimony, showed that the contract had not received the required approval.
Imoke further explained that he communicated the government’s position to Sunrise Power through a letter dated September 3, 2003, making it clear that the Federal Executive Council had not authorised the purported contract award. He also confirmed that he provided the EFCC with a statement in May 2023 concerning the circumstances surrounding the disputed agreement.
During cross-examination by Agunloye’s counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Imoke was questioned on why he failed to cancel the contract after discovering that it had allegedly been awarded without the approval of the Federal Executive Council. Responding, the former minister maintained that there was no justification for cancelling an agreement that had never received the necessary authorisation, insisting that the purported award was invalid in his understanding of the government’s approval process.
However, Imoke acknowledged that he did not formally report Agunloye to the Federal Executive Council after reviewing the documents relating to the contract. The admission formed part of the defence’s efforts to examine the actions taken by government officials after the disputed award became known.
Agunloye, who served as Minister of Power and Steel under the Obasanjo administration between 2002 and 2003, is standing trial on an amended seven-count charge involving allegations of disobedience to a presidential directive, conspiracy, forgery and receipt of gratification in connection with the Mambilla project. The former minister has pleaded not guilty to the charges and continues to challenge the prosecution’s allegations.
The controversy surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project has attracted national and international attention because of the project’s strategic importance to Nigeria’s electricity sector. Originally conceived as a major source of hydroelectric generation in Taraba State, the project was expected to contribute thousands of megawatts to the national power system, but prolonged contractual disputes and implementation challenges have prevented its completion.
The disputed agreement also became the subject of international arbitration between Nigeria and Sunrise Power, further raising concerns about the financial consequences of government contracts allegedly executed without proper institutional authorisation. A recent international arbitration decision favoured Nigeria, although the criminal allegations against Agunloye remain subject to determination by the Nigerian court.
Beyond the criminal proceedings, the latest testimony has renewed debate over the responsibility of public officials to ensure that major government projects comply with established procurement procedures. It also raises broader questions about how successive administrations handled the Mambilla project and why a development considered critical to Nigeria’s electricity future has remained stalled for decades.
Justice Onwuegbuzie subsequently adjourned the matter to November 2, 4, 9 and 11, 2026, for continuation of the trial. The court is expected to consider further evidence as the prosecution seeks to establish its allegations, while the defence maintains Agunloye’s innocence.
As the legal proceedings continue, the Mambilla controversy remains a reminder of the importance of transparency, institutional accountability and strict compliance with approval procedures in the execution of major public infrastructure projects.
