The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has established a special team to investigate certain politicians and former government officials mentioned in a ruling by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) on the Mambilla power project in Taraba State. According to sources, EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede is overseeing the team's activities. This move follows an ICC ruling in Paris that dismissed some claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd against the Nigerian government.
The ICC ruling, which was delivered on Thursday, rejected claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd, led by Leno Adesanya, seeking $680 million and other costs totaling over $2.7 billion. The court also ordered Sunrise and Adesanya to refund Nigeria $11.8 million in legal fees. The ruling mentioned several prominent individuals, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, and former Minister of Power and Steel Olu Agunloye.
The EFCC is interested in investigating certain transactions mentioned in the ICC ruling and their connection to the Mambilla power project. Specifically, the ruling mentioned a $500,000 payment made by Leno Adesanya to Jennifer Douglas Abubakar, Atiku's former wife, in 2003. Adesanya claimed the payment was related to a currency exchange transaction with Atiku, but the court ruled that insufficient evidence was presented to support this claim.
Atiku has denied any wrongdoing, stating that the ICC ruling did not indict him or find him guilty of any offense. He emphasized that he did not award the Mambilla contract, and his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, challenged critics to point out where the ruling stated that Atiku received a bribe or was involved in corrupt practices.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the commission was aware of the special team's establishment but stated that he had not been fully briefed on the team's mandate. The EFCC's investigation is expected to focus on uncovering any potential wrongdoing related to the Mambilla power project.
The Mambilla power project has been a long-standing issue in Nigeria, with several stakeholders involved in the dispute. The ICC ruling has brought the matter back into the spotlight, and the EFCC's investigation is likely to generate significant interest. The commission's findings, when released, will be closely watched by the public and stakeholders.
The EFCC's probe into Atiku, Malami, and others is part of a broader effort to tackle corruption and ensure accountability in Nigeria's power sector. The commission's actions demonstrate its commitment to investigating allegations of wrongdoing, regardless of the individuals or groups involved.
Key points
- The EFCC has set up a special team to investigate politicians and ex-government officials mentioned in an ICC ruling on the Mambilla power project.
- The ICC ruling dismissed claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd against the Nigerian government, ordering the company to refund $11.8 million in legal fees.
- The EFCC's investigation will focus on uncovering potential wrongdoing related to the Mambilla power project, including transactions mentioned in the ICC ruling.
