The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has set up a team to investigate individuals named in alleged shady deals in the Mambilla Power Project. The team, supervised by EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede, will probe Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd, and several high-profile Nigerians. This move follows an International Arbitration Tribunal ruling under the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, which rejected claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd against Nigeria.
The ICC tribunal's ruling awarded Nigeria $11.8 million in legal fees and rejected Sunrise's claim for $400 million. The tribunal also asserted its jurisdiction over Nigeria's counterclaim against Adesanya and his firm. President Bola Tinubu welcomed the ruling, stating it affirms Nigeria's determination to resist predatory and exploitative claims. The tribunal named several Nigerian politicians and individuals who held public offices as associates or officials involved in shady deals with Adesanya.
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, was named in the tribunal's review of a $500,000 payment made by Adesanya to Atiku's ex-wife, Jennifer Douglas. The payment was made from Adesanya's Swiss bank account to a US bank account belonging to Douglas less than four months before the Mambilla BOT contract was awarded to Sunrise. The tribunal questioned the payment, citing a lack of documentary evidence to support Adesanya's claim that it was a foreign-exchange transaction.
Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, was criticized by the tribunal for acting against Nigeria's national interest and maintaining an "inappropriate relationship" with Adesanya. Malami is currently facing trial over allegations of conspiring to conceal, disguise, and retain about N8.7 billion in proceeds of unlawful activities. Other officials named in the tribunal's ruling include Olu Agunloye, Sambo Dasuki, Abdullahi Yola, and Dere Awosika.
Agunloye, a former Minister of Power and Steel, was tied to payments he claimed were for "medical expenses." He is currently being tried on seven counts of forgery, receiving gratification, and disobedience to presidential directives in relation to the power project. The tribunal also questioned a $1.74 million payment made by Adesanya to Sambo Dasuki's son, Abubakar Dasuki, citing inconsistencies in Adesanya's evidence and a lack of records.
The EFCC is expected to invite Atiku and his ex-wife for questioning in the coming days or weeks. Atiku's Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, dismissed calls for Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, challenging the APC to produce evidence of Atiku's wrongdoing. Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise, is also expected to be investigated.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the commission is aware of the development but has not been fully briefed about the details. The investigation is expected to focus on alleged bribery and corrupt practices surrounding the Mambilla Power Project. The project's troubled history has led to multiple court cases and arbitration proceedings.
Key points
- The EFCC is investigating several high-profile Nigerians, including Atiku Abubakar and Abubakar Malami, over alleged shady deals in the Mambilla Power Project.
- The ICC tribunal's ruling awarded Nigeria $11.8 million in legal fees and rejected Sunrise's claim for $400 million.
- The investigation follows allegations of bribery and corrupt practices surrounding the Mambilla Power Project.
