ENGINEERS FAROUK AHMED, GBENGA KOMOLAFE RESIGN, PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES SUCCESSORS TO THE SENATE FOR APPROVAL. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE   ENGINEERS FAROUK AHMED, GBENGA KOMOLAFE RESIGN, PRESIDENT TINUBU NOMINATES SUCCESSORS TO THE SENATE FOR APPROVAL President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).   The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC. Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).   To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.   The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.   Eyesan, a graduate of Economics f...

$6BN MAMBILLA PROJECT ALLEGED FRAUD: COURT GRANTS EFCC'S MOVE TO AMEND CHARGES AGAINST AGUNLOYE. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.


 $6bn Mambilla Project Alleged 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, January 23, 2025 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 standing trial by the  EFCC on seven-count charges, bordering on official corruption and fraudulent award of Mambilla Power Project contract to the tune of $6billion (Six Billion United States Dollars).

 

Earlier on July 1 2024, Prosecution Counsel, Abba Mohammed, SAN, drew the attention of the court to the amended charge, urging the court to accept same and cause the defendant to take his plea, relying on the provision of Section 216 and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.


However, defense counsel, Adeola Adedipe, SAN objected to the plea arguing  that the leave of the court must be formally sought and obtained before the EFCC can amend its charge.


Responding, the court directed parties to furnish the court with authorities in support of the argument canvassed to which the EFCC made reference to the Court of Appeal’s decision in Bovoa v FRN & Anor (2017).


During Thursday's ruling, the judge held that amendment was not intended to overreach the defendant and cause injustice to 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 pronounced.


“In the court`s final decision, the arguments of the learned counsel to the defendant are hereby discountenanced and therefore hold that the application is liable to succeed accordingly, I so hold, subsequently the application is hereby granted as prayed on the face of the motion paper and the defendant is hereby ordered to take his plea on the altered or amended charge, this is the ruling of the court”.


Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the matter to February 3, 2025 for the defendant to take his plea.

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