President Bola Tinubu has declared that Nigeria’s victory over Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration tribunal in Paris has cleared the biggest legal obstacle to the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
The ICC tribunal on Thursday ruled in favour of Nigeria, rejecting claims brought by Sunrise Power over the Mambilla project in Taraba State. The dispute involved claims running into billions of dollars.
Reacting to the ruling, Tinubu said the decision demonstrated Nigeria’s resolve to protect its national interests and resist what he described as “predatory and exploitative claims” by local and international entities.
“Today’s ICC ruling clears the single biggest legal hurdle that has paralysed the Mambilla hydro power project for years,” the President said.
The President said Nigeria would remain committed to honouring its legal obligations and partnering genuine investors, while firmly defending the nation’s commonwealth against what he termed opportunistic claims.
The long-running dispute dates back to a 2003 agreement concerning the development of a major hydroelectric power plant in Taraba State under a build-operate-transfer arrangement. Nigeria later became embroiled in arbitration proceedings after Sunrise Power alleged breaches of its contractual rights.
In the latest case, Sunrise had sought $680 million in settlement and interest, alongside a separate claim of more than $2.7 billion connected to disputes over the development of the Mambilla project. The ICC tribunal rejected the claims.
The tribunal also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria 75 per cent of its legal fees and expenses from the arbitration, amounting to about $11.82 million.
Tinubu commended Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the Federal Ministry of Justice and Nigeria’s international legal defence team for their roles in securing the outcome.
He also acknowledged former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Muhammadu Buhari, who testified during the proceedings, as well as former ministers, government officials and other witnesses involved in defending Nigeria’s position.
The President further commended the National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for their contributions to the case.
With the ICC ruling now removing what Tinubu described as the “single biggest legal hurdle”, the decision is being viewed by the Federal Government as a significant breakthrough for efforts to move the Mambilla hydropower project forward after years of legal disputes.
