Breaking! Mambilla: Agunloye wins libel case against EFCC
Judgment was delivered on Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at about 11.00 am at the FCT High Court in Abuja in favour of Dr, Olu Agunloye, former Minister of Power and Steel in the case Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1199/2024 and all the reliefs sought in the Statement of Claim of Agunloye were granted. The Court also awarded costs of N10 million against EFCC. Full details of the judgement will be out later when the court releases them.
Agunloye, in the civil suit, “OLU AGUNLOYE v EFCC” sued EFCC for libel and argued that EFCC maliciously libeled him and defamed his character by publishing worldwide that he was involved in a $6 billion fraud and for advertising him along with other persons involved or charged with stolen funds, misappropriation, fraud or embezzlement. Agunloye had demanded from EFCC a retraction of the misleading information, an apology and N1.0 billion as damages. The civil suit was before Hon. Justice Kekemeke sitting at Court 4, High Court of the FCT, Maitama in Abuja for about two years. Agunloye’s legal team was led by the erudite Barrister Adeola Adedipe, SAN alongside Samuel Fagade, Esq., Jedidiah Akpata, Esq., and Mark-Anthony Okolocha, Esq. while EFCC was represented by Dr Wahab Shittu, O.S. Ajani, Esq., A.E. Adama, Esq., and J. T Shittu.
The former Minister is currently undergoing a criminal trial at FCT Court 30, in Apo under Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie for awarding the Mambilla hydroelectric power as a Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) in May 2003 against the then President’s (Obasanjo’s) directives and for receiving N5 million as a retroactive bribe in October 2019, almost 17 years after he had left public office. Agunloye denied vehemently that he did nothing wrong and that the BOT contract did not require the FGN to pay a kobo or any amount for the project and the FGN has not paid a single money in any currency for the project up to this moment. Agunloye also pleaded at court that three payments found in his bank in October 2019 totalling N5 million were not related to the zero-cost BOT contract he awarded in May 2003, over sixteen-and-a-half-years later but about his failing health conditions in 2019.
In yet another civil case, Agunloye, the former Minister of Power, also sued EFCC for unwarrantedly declaring him wanted when EFCC knew where he was and had all his phones, knew his house and office and was in touch with his lawyers and former employers. Agunloye told the court that EFCC still declared him wanted worldwide while he was in their custody at EFCC cell, while he was forced into Kuje Prison by EFCC and while he was arraigned in court by EFCC and was undergoing trial by EFCC. This case is still pending.
When contacted, Agunloye thanked God and his family members and friends for their “unconditional stubborn support and encouragement” and his lawyer, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN for distinctive prowess and excellence in law.
Abdulrasheed. AbujaNews
