Olu Agunloye regained his freedom from prison after meeting bail conditions granted him by an FCT High Court.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, on Friday left Kuje Correctional Centre after meeting conditions for his bail.
Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamu Duza, told PUNCH that Mr Agunloye left the facility around 5:30pm.
“Agunloye has been released from the prison after meeting his bail condition. He was released this evening around 5:30pm,” he said.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Apo granted bail to Agunloye on January 11.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie granted him bail to the tune of N50million with two sureties in the same sum.
According to the court, the sureties must be reputable and people of means that are resident within the FCT.
The court held that the sureties must own landed properties worth N300 million, adding that the Certificate of Occupancy of the said properties must be verifiable.
READ ALSO:
Kuje prison: Olu Agunloye’s life is in danger, says Soyinka
The judge also ordered that the sureties must submit copies of their identity cards as well as photocopies of their international passports to the court registry.
Agunloye was further ordered to submit his international passport to the court and ensure his availability at all times for his trial.
The EFCC alleged that Agunloye, who served as a Minister between 1999 and 2003, under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, illegally awarded a contract for the construction of a 3,960 MW Mambilla hydroelectric power station on a build, operate, and transfer basis.
The agency told the court that the contract, which was awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, was done without any budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing.
Agunloye was equally alleged to have corruptly received kickback to the tune of N3.6 million from the company he awarded the contract to. The former minister however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
