ICC Tribunal Criticizes Malami in Nigeria's Sunrise Power Case

The International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Tribunal in Paris ruled against Nigeria in a judgment debt case involving Sunrise Power related to the Mambilla Power Project. The tribunal condemned former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami for double-dealing, highlighting a $200 million settlement that escalated to $400 million.

The ruling stated that Malami's actions were corrupt and that the Office of the Attorney General cannot bind Nigeria to commercial agreements without presidential approval. President Bola Tinubu congratulated the current Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, on the ruling, which, while a victory for the government, was damaging for the presidency and Malami's reputation.

The judgment exposed systemic issues in Nigeria's governance, particularly the lack of checks and balances and the failure of the Chief of Staff to act as a gatekeeper. The ruling indicated that President Muhammadu Buhari lacked independent legal advice, which contributed to the flawed decisions made regarding the settlements.