Nigeria, June 19 -- A prosecution witness told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo has maintained that former Minister of Power and Steel Development, Olu Agunloye, awarded the controversial Mambilla Hydropower contract without approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Testifying before a judge, Jude Onwuegbuzie, on Monday, Umar Babangida, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said Mr Agunloye's successor, Liyel Imoke, informed investigators that the FEC did not approve the $6 billion Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in May 2003.

Mr Agunloye is facing seven counts of fraudulent contract award and official co...