Prison is a place where criminals, armed robbers, kidnappers and the likes are held, but in Nigeria, the story is different. Here, politicians are once in a while thrown in there when it is hard for them to escape their wrong.
Recently, a significant number of politicians have visited the prison. Indeed, the list is long.
Now, the Federal High Court on Wednesday sent former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, to Kuje Prison on charges of fraud.
Agunloye was arraigned before the court on Wednesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Hearing
During the hearing, the former minister pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Donatus Okorowo, ordered that he be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center until bail is granted.
In December 2023, the EFCC issued a declaration stating that Agunloye was wanted for alleged forgery and corruption.
The anti-graft agency shared a communique on its X handle and website, displaying the former minister’s image.
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In fact, they pleaded with the public to provide any information that could lead to his arrest.
The Mambilla Project
Subsequently, Agunloye was apprehended and placed in detention.
Further investigation into the case revealed that Agunloye, who had served as a minister during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government from 1999 to 2003, was being questioned in relation to the Mambilla project.
Obasanjo had accused Agunloye of fraudulently awarding the project’s contract without the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
However, Agunloye refuted these allegations and claimed that the former president was distorting the facts.
