Former AG's Role in Mambilla Hydropower Arbitration Examined

The article examines the actions of the former Attorney General of the Federation in relation to the Mambilla Hydropower Project arbitration, suggesting that he acted against Nigeria's best interests. It reflects on Nigeria's historical context, beginning with the military coup led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966, which criticized corrupt officials.

The narrative traces Nigeria's transition from an agriculture-based economy to an oil-dependent one following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the subsequent OPEC oil boom. This shift led to rampant corruption among officials, as illustrated by a 1977 Court of Appeal case in England, where Nigeria faced litigation due to mismanagement of cement imports.

The article concludes by noting that the Mambilla Hydropower Project arbitration represents the latest in a series of legal challenges stemming from Nigeria's historical pattern of mismanagement and corruption.