Nigeria Wins Arbitration Against Sunrise Power Over Corruption

On 16 September, a three-member tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris ruled in favor of Nigeria in a case brought by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, which had claimed approximately $2.35 billion related to a 2003 agreement for the Mambilla hydroelectric project in Taraba State. The tribunal, chaired by Melaine van Leeuwen with Stavros Brekoulakis and Simon Nesbitt, dismissed all claims from Sunrise, including a demand for $400 million.

It assessed Nigeria's legal costs at $11,819,506 and ordered Sunrise and its promoter Leno Adesanya to reimburse $9,319,506 with interest. The tribunal found that a 2020 settlement agreement was tainted by corruption involving Abubakar Malami, then Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, and Adesanya.

Malami denied the allegations, stating he was not a party to the proceedings and had no opportunity to defend himself. The case highlighted a conflict where Malami was negotiating a settlement while asserting no valid contract existed.