Mambilla project: Imoke says Sunrise contract invalid

Nkereuwem Effiong

Former Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke, has told the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) did not approve the award of the $6bn Mambilla hydropower project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited.

Imoke, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6) in the trial of former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, maintained that the contract award was invalid because it did not receive the necessary FEC approval.

He gave the testimony on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie at the FCT High Court, Apo, Abuja.

Agunloye is facing an amended seven counts bordering on alleged official corruption and fraudulent award of the $6bn Mambilla hydropower project contract to Sunrise Power Transmission Company Limited while serving as Minister of Power and Steel between 2002 and 2003.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, Imoke said the FEC did not approve the contract award, insisting that the process was invalid.

Asked whether he attended the FEC meeting at which the conclusions of its May 21, 2003 meeting were adopted, the former governor clarified the dates of his assumption of office and participation in subsequent meetings.

He told the court that he was sworn in on July 15, 2003, rather than August, as previously stated.

Imoke added that he participated in the July 2003 FEC meeting, during which the minutes of the council’s 16th meeting held on May 21, 2003, were adopted.

However, he noted that the proceedings of the 17th FEC meeting were not contained in the exhibit file presented before the court.

The witness also explained the distinction between extracts of FEC meetings and the council’s full conclusions.

According to him, extracts are usually forwarded to the ministries concerned with specific memoranda, while the full conclusions are maintained and distributed to offices under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

When shown Exhibits EFCC 3K and EFCC 3D, comprising letters from the Ministry of Power forwarding the FEC meeting conclusions and extracts, respectively, Imoke said both documents were the same in substance and form.

Asked whether he had proposed, during his tenure as minister, that contracts should be awarded under a build-operate-and-transfer arrangement or through outright purchase, he said he could not recall.

Following the cross-examination, prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, requested an adjournment to address new issues raised during the proceedings.

Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case until November 19, 2026, for the re-examination of the witness.

The development was disclosed in a statement by the EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.