Mambilla: Malami breaks silence over ICC tribunal’s findings

Abubakar Malami, the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, has dismissed corruption allegations stemming from the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal's findings related to his management of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. According to a statement from his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, Malami urged the public to consider the findings in the comprehensive 616-page award alongside the entire documentary and evidentiary record.

The ICC tribunal had determined that Malami acted against Nigeria's interests during the settlement negotiations with Sunrise Power and claimed that Malami and the company's promoter, Leno Adesanya, had engaged in a corrupt deal. Malami firmly denied these claims, vehemently asserting that he never acted in accordance with a corrupt agreement or profited personally from Sunrise Power.

He clarified that the Mambilla dispute had been ongoing since 2003, spanning multiple administrations and government officials, with his involvement commencing following a 2016 presidential directive to address the unresolved issues.

Malami explained that Nigeria initially proposed a $500 million settlement during the talks in London in November 2019. The Federal Government countered with a $100 million offer, and a $200 million settlement was eventually pursued. However, Malami stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari did not approve the proposed $200 million settlement. The outgoing leader's stance was communicated to Sunrise Power in April 2020, and a subsequent request in January 2021 was likewise rejected with the words "Not approved."

Regarding the allegation that he received a share of the settlement money from Sunrise Power, Malami categorically rejected the claim as false. He also noted that Adesanya had asserted possession of audio and video recordings pertinent to the allegations, but none of these recordings were submitted before the tribunal. Malami emphasized that the arbitration was a commercial proceeding rather than a criminal trial, urging the tribunal's finding to be interpreted as such, rather than a criminal conviction.

He expressed satisfaction with the tribunal's rejection of Sunrise Power's claims against Nigeria, stating that the outcome would safeguard the country from significant financial loss.