A recent investigation by PREMIUM TIMES played a crucial role in Nigeria's victory in the disputed Mambilla power project arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. The investigation, part of the Pandora Papers project, uncovered a secret offshore arrangement between the family of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and businessman Leno Adesanya. This arrangement was a key piece of evidence presented by the Nigerian government during the arbitration proceedings.
The PREMIUM TIMES investigation, published on 13 October 2021, revealed details of an offshore company, Hydropower Investments Limited, established for three members of the Dasuki family. The company was structured to hold shares in companies linked to Mr Adesanya, including Sunrise Power & Transmission Company Limited, the company at the centre of the Mambilla dispute. The investigation found that Hydropower Investments was incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on 14 November 2013.
The ICC tribunal examined the arrangement as part of Nigeria's allegations of corruption against Mr Adesanya and his dealings with members of the Dasuki family. The tribunal rejected Mr Adesanya's explanation that a $1.74 million payment to Abubakar Dasuki, one of Sambo Dasuki's sons, was a loan. The tribunal cited inconsistencies between his account and other evidence before it, and questioned why such a substantial transaction was not documented in a formal loan agreement.
The tribunal noted that the recipient was the son of Sambo Dasuki, who served as Nigeria's National Security Adviser from June 2012 to July 2015. The tribunal said that payments to direct family members of public officials can constitute bribes, as reflected in the Nigerian Corrupt Practices Act. However, the tribunal did not find that the $1.74 million payment was connected to the execution of the Mambilla agreement.
The connection between the 2021 investigation and the arbitration proceedings became apparent when the tribunal examined Nigeria's allegation concerning the alleged transfer of a stake in Sunrise Power to members of the Dasuki family through Hydropower Investments. The tribunal cited the PREMIUM TIMES investigation as the source of the evidence provided, referencing the article "Pandora Papers: Inside the secret deal between Sambo Dasuki's family and a billionaire govt. contractor".
PREMIUM TIMES was the only Nigerian newspaper to participate in the Pandora Papers project, a groundbreaking global investigation coordinated by the Washington, DC-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). As part of its evidence-gathering activities for the arbitration, lawyers in Nigeria contacted PREMIUM TIMES to request additional information and key documents related to the Pandora Papers story.
Reacting to the verdict, PREMIUM TIMES' Managing Editor, Idris Akinbajo, said the paper is pleased and proud to have contributed to Nigeria's success in the arbitration. "This is another outstanding impact of the global Pandora Papers project in which PREMIUM TIMES was a key participant," he said. "We will keep doing our best to add value to our country, subregion and humanity."
Key points
- The PREMIUM TIMES investigation played a crucial role in Nigeria's victory in the Mambilla power project arbitration.
- The investigation uncovered a secret offshore arrangement between the family of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki and businessman Leno Adesanya.
- The ICC tribunal cited the PREMIUM TIMES investigation as a key piece of evidence in its ruling.
