Former Attorney‑General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami has issued a statement rejecting allegations of corruption that stem from an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal’s findings on the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
The tribunal’s 616‑page award concluded that Malami had acted against Nigeria’s interests while negotiating a settlement with Sunrise Power, and that he and the company’s promoter, Leno Adesanya, had entered into a corrupt agreement. Malami, through his Special Assistant on Media Mohammed Bello Doka, said the award should be read alongside the complete documentary and evidentiary record.
Malami denied that he had entered into a corrupt deal or received any personal financial benefit from Sunrise Power. He said the dispute over Mambilla began in 2003, long before his tenure as Attorney‑General, and involved successive administrations and officials.
According to Malami, his involvement began after a 2016 presidential directive to resolve outstanding disputes relating to the project. The Ministry of Justice was tasked with advising the Federal Government on its legal exposure and possible resolution. Sunrise had initially proposed a $500 million settlement in London in November 2019; the government responded with an offer of $100 million, and a $200 million settlement was later considered.
Malami said former President Muhammadu Buhari did not approve the $200 million proposal. “Not approved,” Buhari’s position was communicated to Sunrise in April 2020, and a subsequent request in January 2021 was also rejected with the same wording. He instructed the government’s lawyers to resist Sunrise’s attempt to enforce the settlement terms against Nigeria.
He described the claim that he was promised a share of money from Sunrise as false and noted that Adesanya had alleged possession of audio and video recordings relevant to the allegations, but none of the recordings were produced before the tribunal.
“Not approved.”
Malami stressed that the arbitration was a commercial proceeding and not a criminal trial, and welcomed the tribunal’s rejection of Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria, saying the outcome protected the country from substantial financial exposure.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
