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Message: [QUOTE="Queen, post: 84652, member: 27"] A cop testifying for the prosecution just said the ex-minister followed the rules. Umar Babangida, an assistant police commissioner, stated in an Abuja court that Olu Agunloye did not exceed financial directives from Olusegun Obasanjo. The former president had set a spending limit for ministers, requiring written approval for contracts beyond a certain amount. Babangida confirmed Agunloye adhered to this rule while recommending Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited for the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power project. The witness is the third called by the EFCC, which is prosecuting Agunloye on multiple charges. These accusations include conspiracy, forgery, and receiving gratification linked to an alleged fraud. Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, entered a not guilty plea before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie. The charges involve a forged letter about constructing the power station on a build, operate, and transfer basis. Counsel for the defendant, Adeola Adedipe, conducted the cross-examination. Babangida addressed the proposal parameters from two companies. Sunrise Power proposed thirty-five percent government participation, while Tafag Nigeria Limited suggested twenty-five percent. Obasanjo directed that both companies receive identical terms, capping federal involvement at twenty-five percent with a specific tariff limit. The witness affirmed Agunloye’s recommendation that Sunrise Power fell within these established parameters. He acknowledged the basis for this advice existed before Agunloye’s ministerial appointment. Babangida also noted that the Federal Executive Council supported the memorandum for the project. Funds were allocated in the national budget for the project’s commencement. Babangida disagreed about binding financial decisions from Chinese entities, noting their absence from a key memorandum. He further disagreed with the recommendation that relied solely on the accepted government participation cap. The judge scheduled additional cross-examination for a later date. [/QUOTE]

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