Tag: Dr Olu Agunloye

Barely 72 hours after the immediate past Kaduna Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), scores of his supporters armed with various placards on Wednesday stormed the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.

They demanded for the immediate removal of the National Secretary Dr Olu Agunloye over alleged fraud 

Multiple sources at the National Secretariat confirmed that the protesters were supporters of Nasir El-Rufai who wanted Agunloye out to pave the way for another person very close to the former Governor 

It was gathered that Agunloye was reportedly smuggled to safety while the National Chairman Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam was yet to report for office while the protest lasted.l

He later came around by 2 30pm and is having emergency meeting with other party officials on the development 

 It was gathered Agunloye had petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over an alleged plot to pressure him into resigning.

It was also gathered that SDP members loyal to El-Rufai were actively pushing for Agunloye’s resignation.

El-Rufai officially resigned from the APC on Monday and announced his move to the SDP.

He has also directed his political allies and supporters to join him in the new party.

The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) cited a growing disconnect between his personal values and the APC’s current direction as the key reason for his defection.

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El-Rufai, a founding member of the APC, accused the party’s current leadership of abandoning the progressive ideals that guided its formation in 2013. 

He claimed that the party had been taken over by individuals who disregarded internal democracy and treated members with contempt.

He added that despite repeatedly voicing his concerns about the party’s decline, both privately and publicly, his warnings were ignored. 

One of the security guards within the area confided around 12.30 pm, angry but well-organised protesters stormed the National Secretariat and chased Agunloye from the Secretariat.

Agunloye explained surprise at the ugly development saying that he had to run to his lawyer to prepare another petition to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun as a follow up to the one earlier written on the matter 

Efforts to speak with Gabam proved abortive as he was still holding consultations with the members of the Party over the incident 

Former Minister of Power, Dr Olu Agunloye was on Monday re-arraigned before a HIgh Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo on a seven-count amended charge filed by the amendment made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Agunloye pleaded not guilty when the charge marked: FCT/HC/CR/617/2023, bordering on forgery, disobedience of presidential order and corruption in relation to the 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in Taraba State, was read to him by an official of the court.

The prosecution alleged, among others, that the former minister received N5.212million from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) and Leno Adesanya, through Jide Abiodun Sotinrin, paid into Agunloye’s Guaranty Trust Bank account, for conveying the Federal Government’s approval for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station in favour of SPTCL while serving as minister.

While testifying on Monday, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Adewale Agunbiade, a from Compliance Officer with Jaiz Bank Plc (formerly with GTBank) said he neither knew the defendant personally nor had any special interest in the case.

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Agunbiade said despite having left GTBank, he was not surprised when the EFCC invited him in May, 2023 to come and volunteer his statement on the case.

The witness, who was being cross-examined by defence lawyer, Aseola Adedipe (SAN) said when he informed the EFCC that he had left GTBank, he was told that he was the one who prepared the documents relating to the court’s proceedings.

He confirmed the bank statement of Jide Abiodun Sotinrin, who paid money into Agunloye’s account on August 10, 2019, October 22, 2019 and November 13, 2019.

Agunbiade said the transactions were about individuals’ tranfers, explaining that the transfer of money was from one individual customer of GTBank to another individual customer of the same bank. 

He said the transfer of N3.6million by Sotinrin to Agunloye’s account did not reference that it was made on behalf of either Leno Adesanya or Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited. 

The witness added that the narration for the transfer of N1,121,000 by Sotinrin to the defendant did not state that it was on behalf of Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited. 

He said the N500,000 transferred to the defendant by Sotunrin did not reference that it was from Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited or Leno Adesanya.

At th conclusion of the witness’ testimony, Justice Jude Onwugbuese adjourned further hearing till February 24.