Malami and Fagbemi Clash Over ICC Ruling on Mambilla Project

Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, and his successor, Lateef Fagbemi, presented opposing views on the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) ruling in Paris, which favored Nigeria and dismissed $3.38 billion in claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd concerning the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State. Malami rejected any implication of corrupt actions during his tenure, asserting that he inherited a longstanding dispute.

He noted that on April 20, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari indicated that the Federal Government lacked the funds to pay Sunrise. Conversely, Fagbemi stated that the Tribunal found Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise, guilty of engaging in extensive bribery and corruption involving senior Nigerian officials.

Fagbemi emphasized that the corrupt dealings were linked to previous Settlement Agreements and that Sunrise was ordered to cover a significant portion of Nigeria's legal costs. The Mambilla project has faced numerous disputes since its inception.