Nigeria Wins Key Legal Battle Over Mambilla Project Claims

On September 17, 2026, an International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris ruled in favor of Nigeria in a long-standing dispute with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited regarding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. The tribunal dismissed claims that could have exposed Nigeria to liabilities exceeding $3.38 billion.

This outcome is particularly significant as Nigeria faces challenges related to debt and infrastructure deficits. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), along with the Federal Ministry of Justice and Nigeria’s external defense team, which included Elizabeth Oger Gross and Tolu Obamuroh from Paul Hastings LLP, played crucial roles in this legal victory.

The dispute traces back to a 2003 agreement and escalated when Sunrise initiated arbitration in 2017. Although a settlement agreement in 2020 proposed a $200 million payment to Sunrise, the tribunal's recent ruling has raised questions about the conduct of public officials in such agreements.