Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Case stalled for three months because EFCC did not follow proper procedures
The judge called the Mambilla case as the fourth case on Monday, 20 July 2026 at 1.38 pm at Court 30 at the FCT High Court. The Prosecution Lawyer, Barr Abba Mohammed, SAN promptly announced that he had just filed a new proof of evidence as the 11th proof of evidence. This new proof is a letter written by Sunrise and Co to the then Minister of Power, Mr Lyel Imoke in August 2003 seeking to get the contract implementation started. The prosecution lawyer told the court that he filed this new proof in court in the morning of 20 July 2026 and served the defence while they were all waiting for the case to be called at Court 30.
The prosecution lawyer also attempted to present the former Minister of power, Hon Liyel Imoke as the sixth prosecution witness, without hinting the Defence ahead to get him prepared saying that there was no need to give a hint or time to prepare since Mr Imoke had been listed as a Prosecution Witness since September 2023.
The Defence lawyer, Mr Adeola Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria raised what he called an observation, He told the Judge: “My Lord, the Prosecution is not ready for this case”. The Defence lawyer, Mr Adedipe also told the court that the Prosecution had not followed the proper procedures. He said that the actions of the prosecution amounted to an ambush which is not intended or encouraged by the law.
The Defence also stressed that the actions of the prosecution lawyer were contrary to Section 379 of the Evidence Act and he pointed out to the Judge that the Prosecution failed to present the summary of the witness testimonies along with the list of witnesses as required and appears to confuse the list of exhibits tendered by witnesses with the summary or synopsis of testimonies by witnesses. The Prosecution Lawyer made spirited efforts to convince the judge to agree with him that he did the proper thing and allow him to proceed to proceed with the prosecution.
At the end, the Judge ruled to uphold the position of the Defence and adjourned to enable the prosecution to tidy up his case properly. Court was adjourned until 19 October 2026 at 12 Noon, and at 9.00 am on the following four dates, 2nd, 4th, 9th and 11th of November 2026.
#AbujaNews. 20 July 2026
