Mambilla: ICC Raises Questions Over $500,000 Payment to Atiku’s Former Wife

An International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal has raised questions over a $500,000 payment made to Jennifer Douglas, the then-wife of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, during the period when Sunrise Power and Transmission Company was pursuing the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State.

The payment, made on January 30, 2003, has become a major political issue after details emerged from the ICC’s final award in the arbitration between Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The tribunal heard that Leno Adesanya, promoter of Sunrise Power, transferred the money through his offshore company, China Castle Investments Limited, into a United States bank account belonging to Douglas.

Adesanya told the tribunal that the payment was a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku, who was Vice-President at the time.

However, the three-member tribunal found that Sunrise and Adesanya had not provided sufficient documentary or independent witness evidence to support that explanation.

According to the tribunal’s findings, Adesanya did not produce records showing the underlying naira payment, the exchange rate used, instructions from Atiku or his aides, correspondence relating to the transaction or documents establishing its commercial purpose.

The tribunal also noted that neither Atiku nor Douglas provided witness statements or declarations supporting Adesanya’s explanation.

The timing of the transaction was another issue examined by the tribunal.

The $500,000 transfer was made less than four months before Sunrise was purportedly awarded a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract for the Mambilla project by then Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, on May 22, 2003.

The tribunal described the circumstances surrounding the payment as raising “significant red flags”, given its timing and the parties involved.

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However, the findings require an important distinction.

The ICC proceedings were an arbitration between Sunrise and the Federal Government, not a criminal trial of Atiku. The tribunal’s examination of the payment did not amount to a criminal conviction of the former Vice-President.

The tribunal also found no evidence in the arbitration record that Atiku had actually exercised his official duties in a manner that secured the Mambilla contract for Sunrise.

Atiku has rejected suggestions that the ICC tribunal found him guilty of corruption, challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) to identify where the final award convicted him of receiving a $500,000 bribe, influencing the Mambilla contract or abusing his office.

Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the APC was presenting allegations examined during the arbitration as though they constituted a corruption verdict against him.

He also argued that he was not a party to the arbitration proceedings and did not testify before the tribunal.

The controversy intensified after the APC Presidential Campaign Council, through its spokesman Dele Alake, called on Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race.

The campaign council accused the former Vice-President of compromising Nigeria’s interests over the Mambilla project and linked the $500,000 payment to the circumstances surrounding Sunrise’s pursuit of the contract.

The APC also alleged that Atiku and Agunloye worked together to facilitate the project despite objections to the proposed arrangement.

Those claims are political allegations by the APC and have been rejected by Atiku.

The ICC tribunal, meanwhile, examined the payment as part of a much broader dispute over the Mambilla project and the various transactions surrounding it.

The tribunal noted that Adesanya had been pursuing the Mambilla project for years and had interacted with senior Nigerian officials during the process.

Atiku’s role in the project also came under examination because he was Vice-President between 1999 and 2007 and was involved in government discussions concerning the proposed hydroelectric development.

The tribunal noted that Atiku led a Nigerian government delegation to Beijing in July 2002, with Adesanya among the participants.

During the visit, Nigeria and a Chinese state-owned company signed a memorandum of understanding relating to cooperation on major infrastructure projects, including the proposed Mambilla development.

The $500,000 transfer took place about six months later.

The tribunal also examined separate payments involving Agunloye.

According to the findings, three payments totalling about $15,000 were made between August and November 2019 to Agunloye through his aide, Jide Sotinrin.

The payments formed part of the wider corruption allegations examined in relation to the Mambilla dispute.

The project itself dates back to the early 2000s and has remained stalled for more than two decades.

Sunrise relied on a May 22, 2003 letter from Agunloye as evidence that it had been awarded a BOT contract to develop the project.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, however, disputed the validity of the arrangement and maintained that the Federal Government had not authorised the minister to commit Nigeria to the contract on the terms contained in the letter.

The dispute eventually moved into international arbitration.

Sunrise subsequently pursued billions of dollars in claims against Nigeria, arguing that the government had breached obligations associated with the Mambilla project.

In the latest ICC proceedings, the tribunal rejected Sunrise’s claims against Nigeria.

The company had sought $680 million in connection with a settlement dispute, while a separate arbitration connected with the project involved claims exceeding $2.7 billion.

The tribunal also ordered Sunrise and Adesanya to reimburse Nigeria for 75 per cent of its legal fees and expenses, reported at approximately $11.8 million.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed Nigeria’s victory, describing the ruling as removing a major legal obstacle that had hindered the Mambilla project for years.

The Presidency said the Federal Executive Council had never authorised the original 2003 contract and commended former President Obasanjo and the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who testified in the arbitration.

The tribunal’s ruling also dealt with a later $200 million settlement agreement between Nigeria and Sunrise and an addendum that introduced another $200 million default provision.

In separate findings, the tribunal concluded that the settlement arrangements were not binding on Nigeria because they lacked the required presidential approval. It also found the agreements to be products of corruption involving former Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami and Adesanya.

Those findings relate to the later settlement arrangements and are distinct from the tribunal’s examination of the 2003 $500,000 payment involving Atiku’s former wife.

The different strands of the ICC award have nevertheless become intertwined in the political debate over Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid.

The APC has focused on the $500,000 payment, its timing and the relationship between Adesanya and Atiku’s family, arguing that the circumstances require political accountability.

Atiku, on the other hand, has maintained that the tribunal did not find that he received a bribe or used his office to influence the award of the Mambilla contract.

The ICC’s findings show that the tribunal questioned the explanation for the $500,000 transfer because it lacked supporting documentation, while also stating that it found no evidence in the arbitration record that Atiku used his official duties to secure the contract for Sunrise.

The distinction is important because the arbitration was primarily a contractual dispute between Sunrise Power and Nigeria, with the payment examined as part of the evidence surrounding the contested Mambilla contract.

The controversy is now likely to remain part of the political debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election, particularly as Atiku, the ADC candidate, faces attacks from the ruling APC over his record in government.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s victory before the ICC has removed the immediate arbitration claims brought by Sunrise and its promoter over the disputed project.

The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, proposed as a major power-generation project in Taraba State, remains a significant component of Nigeria’s long-running plans to expand electricity generation.

Mambilla: ICC Raises Questions Over $500,000 Payment to Atiku’s Former Wife

Niger Miners’ Deaths: Families Demand Compensation, Justice for Victims

Parents of artisanal miners who died in Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) custody in Niger State have demanded compensation for the families of the victims, as investigations continue into the deaths of 37 detainees.

The deaths occurred after the miners were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in Minna, with the incident sparking public concern and calls for accountability over the treatment of people held in government custody.

The bereaved families are seeking financial compensation as well as a thorough investigation to establish exactly what happened to their relatives and determine whether any individual or institution should be held responsible.

Among those who lost their lives were children and teenagers, according to accounts from relatives of some of the victims.

One of the affected parents, Musa Aliyu, said he lost two sons, Ibrahim, 17, and Abubakar, 12, following their arrest.

Aliyu said the two boys had gone to a mining site around the Mohammed Inuwa Wushishi Housing Estate before the family learnt that they had been arrested by security personnel.

He said his wife went to the Civil Defence office after the boys failed to return home and was later informed that some of the detainees had died.

The family was subsequently directed to the General Hospital, Minna, where the bodies were taken.

Another bereaved father, Lawal Mohammad, said his 15-year-old son, Suleiman, was also among those who died.

Mohammad said he attempted to take food to his son after his arrest but was not allowed to see him. When the family returned to the NSCDC facility the following day, they were reportedly informed that he had died.

The parents have called for compensation and an investigation capable of providing clear answers about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

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The incident followed enforcement operations conducted by NSCDC personnel in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16 as part of efforts to tackle suspected illegal mining activities.

The Niger State Government confirmed that 37 detainees died while in NSCDC custody and subsequently commenced an investigation into the incident.

One of the key issues being examined is the condition of the facility where the suspects were detained and whether the number of people held there exceeded its capacity.

There have also been differing accounts about the number of people detained during the operation, with authorities at one point reporting that about 67 suspects were being held.

The exact circumstances leading to the deaths remain under investigation.

An initial explanation from the NSCDC referred to a possible disease outbreak, but concerns have also been raised about the conditions inside the detention facility, including alleged overcrowding and inadequate ventilation.

Accounts attributed to survivors and other sources have raised additional allegations concerning the conditions experienced by detainees before the deaths. However, those allegations have not been established as the official cause of death.

Authorities are expected to rely on autopsies, medical examinations and forensic investigations to establish what caused the deaths.

The Niger State Government has also constituted a committee of inquiry chaired by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba to investigate the incident and make recommendations.

The development has led to the suspension of the NSCDC Niger State Commandant, Suberu Aniviye, and other officials to allow investigations into the incident to proceed.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that a full investigation be conducted into the deaths and that anyone found culpable should face appropriate legal consequences.

The Presidency said the investigation should establish the circumstances surrounding the arrests, the number of detainees, the conditions under which they were held, the medical attention provided to them and the events that preceded their deaths.

The President’s directive also underscores the obligation of security agencies to protect the lives and dignity of people in custody, regardless of the allegations for which they were arrested.

The deaths have heightened tension in Minna, with authorities taking measures to restore calm following reactions to the incident.

The controversy has also renewed concerns about the treatment of suspects in detention facilities and the need for security agencies to comply with established standards for the humane treatment of detainees.

For the affected families, the demand for compensation and accountability remains central to the aftermath of the tragedy.

They want the government to establish how the 37 detainees died, clarify the circumstances of their detention and ensure that any person found to have contributed to the deaths through unlawful conduct or negligence is held accountable.

As the investigations continue, the exact cause of death of the 37 miners has not been conclusively established.

Niger Miners’ Deaths: Families Demand Compensation, Justice for Victims

Rivers Fire: Mother, Four Children Die in Okochiri House Inferno

A mother and her four children have reportedly died in a fire outbreak at their residence in Okochiri community, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, with the circumstances surrounding the tragedy now under investigation.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, September 18, 2026, throwing the community into mourning as residents gathered at the scene of the devastating Rivers fire.

The victims were reportedly trapped inside the building when the fire broke out. Community youths later mobilised to put out the flames, but the mother and her children could not be rescued.

The Commander of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Okrika, Igwe Godswill, said he and his team arrived at the scene after receiving information about the incident and found that the fire had already been extinguished.

According to him, the bodies of the mother and four children were found after the flames were put out.

Godswill said the police had also arrived at the scene and commenced preliminary investigations to determine what caused the fire and how the victims died.

He described the incident as tragic and said a detailed investigation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

However, the reported number of fatalities has not been completely reconciled by authorities.

While the Okrika CJTF commander reported that five people — a mother and four children — died, the Rivers State Police Command gave a different account, saying a woman and three children were killed while other occupants sustained injuries.

The discrepancy in the death toll has yet to be officially resolved.

Rivers State Police Command spokesperson Blessing Agabe confirmed that the incident was being investigated and said investigators were working to establish the immediate and underlying causes of the fire.

The police also said property was destroyed in the incident, although the full extent of the damage had not been independently established.

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Petrol ignition claim under investigation

The circumstances surrounding the outbreak remain unclear, although community sources have raised a possible connection with petrol.

One source alleged that the fire started while someone was attempting to transfer petrol into a jerrycan, after which the fuel reportedly caught fire following contact with a spark.

Another claim suggested that the petrol involved might have been contaminated or of poor quality.

However, there is no official confirmation that petrol caused the fire.

The claim remains an allegation pending the outcome of the police investigation and any technical examination of the scene.

Investigators are expected to establish whether petroleum products were involved and, if so, how the fuel ignited and whether appropriate safety measures were observed.

Other possible causes, including an electrical fault, cooking-related accident or another ignition source, have not been ruled out publicly.

Fire destroys residential building

The fire reportedly caused extensive damage to the residential building.

Footage from the scene showed significant destruction, including damage to the roof and other parts of the structure.

Community members were said to have responded to the emergency and battled the flames before security officials arrived.

The extent of the damage and the value of property lost are expected to form part of the police assessment.

The tragedy has also raised concerns about fire safety and the handling of highly flammable substances in residential areas.

Fuel vapour can ignite easily when exposed to an ignition source, making the transfer and storage of petrol outside approved facilities particularly hazardous. However, this general fire-safety concern does not establish what caused the Okochiri incident.

Police probe circumstances of deaths

The Rivers State Police Command is expected to examine the condition of the building, the possible source of ignition, the number of people inside the house when the fire started and the circumstances surrounding the deaths and injuries.

Investigators may also rely on statements from survivors and witnesses as well as evidence recovered from the scene.

No suspect has been publicly identified or announced to have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The identities and ages of the victims had also not been officially released in the latest accounts.

The tragedy comes amid recurring concerns over residential fire outbreaks in Nigeria, particularly incidents involving petroleum products, electrical faults and unsafe cooking or fuel-storage practices.

For the Okochiri community, however, the immediate concern remains the loss of lives and the need to establish exactly how the fire started and why the victims were unable to escape.

Until the police investigation is concluded, the reported petrol-related explanation remains unconfirmed, while the discrepancy over whether four or five people died also requires official clarification.

The findings of the investigation are expected to provide a clearer account of the Okrika fire tragedy, including the confirmed number of fatalities, the cause of the blaze and whether any individual or safety failure contributed to the deaths.

Rivers Fire: Mother, Four Children Die in Okochiri House Inferno