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$6bn Mambilla project: FG, Sunrise Power await Paris court verdict

Published

2 months ago

January 27, 2025

Mambilla power project site

$6bn Mambilla project: FG, Sunrise Power await Paris court verdict

Former presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Olusegun Obasanjo have defended Nigeria in the $2.3 billion arbitration proceedings filed against the country by Sunrise Power over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris.

The parties in the case now await the court’s verdict.

The arbitration court in France had a week-long hearing, between 18th and 23rd January, in Paris on the ongoing dispute between Sunrise Company/Leno Adesanya and the government of Nigeria on the existence or absence of a contract for the construction of the Mambilla Power Project.

The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station is a proposed 3,050 MW hydroelectric power project.

Sunrise Power, which claimed to have been awarded a $6 billion contract to build, operate and transfer the power plant by the Obasanjo administration in May 2003, is in arbitration with Nigeria at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.

The company has alleged a breach of contract by the federal government and is seeking monetary compensation of $2.3 billion to cover what it had spent on financial and legal consultants.

Obasanjo, Buhari testify at tribunal

Credible sources spoke with our reporters on the appearance of two former presidents at the court last week.

One of the sources said both Obasanjo and Buhari maintained their stand that no contract was signed in the first instance. Hence, there was no basis for the claim of compensation by Sunrise over the $6bn Mambilla power contract deal.

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Obasanjo, who testified before the ICC last Wednesday, had in an interview he granted TheCable in 2023, queried his former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, how he got the prerogative to award the contract to Sunrise in 2003.

Buhari, who also testified last Thursday, had earlier written to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, denying authorising the settlement agreement of 2020.

The source said: “It is very important for the nation’s case that the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, was successful in bringing two former presidents – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari – to testify at the hearing.

“By this action, the government of Nigeria sent a signal of its strong commitment to defending the nation’s interest.”

The source said both leaders – Obasanjo and Buhari – are known for speaking forthrightly and unequivocally, and this, they exhibited in Paris.

The source further explained that to the delight of the international team of lawyers representing Nigeria, the two past presidents did extremely well, exposing the Sunrise/Leno’s claim for what it is: an attempt using fraud, deceit and lies to scoop USD660,000 settlement from Nigeria in the first instance, for the alleged violation of a 2003 contract for which there is no valid approval.

According to the source, “It is evident from the proceedings that the case of the litigants was rooted in a purported 2003 agreement. The 2003 contract was established not to have been validly in existence. This is worsened by the fact that the litigants failed to produce their major witnesses.”

Key witnesses missing as Leno makes appearance

Another trusted source confirmed to the Daily Trust that Barrister Michael Andoakaa, the Yar’adua-era Minister of Justice and Attorney General made a brief appearance in Paris. He did not show up at the hearing.

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Similarly, the much-touted appearance of a one-time Minister of Power, Agunloye, did not also materialise. He was the one who allegedly signed a side letter communicating the approval of the contract 24 hours after its rejection by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which meeting was presided over by Obasanjo.

A third “key witness”, a Senegalese woman, did not also appear at the hearing.

The source, who closely monitored the proceedings also said, “Another major setback suffered by the litigants was their over-reliance on an earlier witness statement deposed to by Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney General under President Buhari.

“Malami, on whose testimony the litigants made heavy weather was not fielded as a witness, but ended up lining behind his former boss, President Buhari, to support and prepare him well for his (Buhari’s) testimony.

“It was by and large a great showing, consolidated by the equally outstanding testimonies of former ministers, Engineer Sulaiman Adamu, formerly Water Resources and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Power.”

However, Leno Adesanya was before the panel on Tuesday. He, like all the others, was led by a counsel.

Whereabouts of Dr Olu Agunloye

The Daily Trust findings revealed that Olu Agunloye is presently in his house because he had been granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He is being tried at the Federal High Court, FCT, sitting in Apo, Abuja and therefore not in Paris, France.

When our reporter spoke to the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on whether Agunloye would testify at Paris, France, he said they didn’t know because they were not concerned about the matter, and as such it wouldn’t affect the ongoing case in Nigeria.

$6bn Mambilla project: FG, Sunrise Power await Paris court verdict

Daily Trust

Related Topics:Mambilla Paris court Sunrise power

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Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

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The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

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Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Published

3 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

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He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

metro

Fubara writes fresh letter to Rivers Assembly for 2025 budget presentation

Published

4 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Fubara writes fresh letter to Rivers Assembly for 2025 budget presentation

Less than eight hours after his Chief Judge has been placed on investigation over alleged age falsification, the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has properly written to the state House of Assembly of his intention to present the 2025 budget.

On Wednesday, Fubara was locked out of the Assembly Complex for what the spokesman of the House, Hon Enemi George said “his inability to formally communicate the House”.

In a letter titled: Notice of Presentation of Rivers State 2025 Budget to Rivers State House of Assembly, and addressed to the Speaker, Martins Amaewhule, the Governor recalled his first visit to the House.

“You may recall my failed visit to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Wednesday, 12th March, 2025 for the presentation of the 2025 Rivers State Budget in compliance with the judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“As you know, the planned presentation of the said budget could not take place because my entourage and I were locked out at the gate and denied entry into the premises despite the prior delivery of a soft copy of the notice to you following the failure of the Clerk to accept the hard copy from us.

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“Recall further that before this unfortunate incident, the House issued a 48-hour ultimatum to present the 2025 budget even when we were yet to be served with the certified
true copy of the judgement and accompanying enrolled orders”, he said.

Governor Fubara informed the Speaker in the letter that “we were simply complying with both the order of the Supreme Court and the request of the Rivers State House of Assembly when we came to present the 2025 budget on the 12th of March, 2025.

“The Supreme Court has directed that all arms of government should exercise their
powers and perform their duties within the ambits of the Constitution and ordinary laws of our country, and this we must do to end the lingering stalemate and advance the progress of our state and the well-being of our people.

“No matter the depth of our differences, we believe the interests of the State and our
people should take priority over political conflicts.

“Against this background, it is my pleasure to again notify you, Mr. Speaker, of my desire and intention to present the 2025 Budget to the Rivers State House of Assembly on
Wednesday, 19th March, 2025 by 11.00 a.m. or any other date within March 2025 that you may
consider convenient”.

It is therefore left to be seen if the House will have the courtesy to respond to the letter giving the long time frame for thr presentation of the budget.