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The APC Presidential Campaign Council has accused ADC presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of compromising Nigeria’s interests over the long-running dispute surrounding the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, following revelations concerning a $500,000 payment made to his then-wife, Jennifer Douglas, in January 2003.
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The council’s allegation followed an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration ruling in Paris that dismissed Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited’s multibillion-dollar claims against Nigeria, while the tribunal examined the timing and circumstances surrounding the $500,000 transfer and the purported 2003 award of the Mambilla contract.
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The tribunal found that the explanation offered by Sunrise promoter Leno Adesanya that the payment was simply a foreign-exchange transaction could not be substantiated by the evidence presented, although reports on the final award indicate that the tribunal did not make a finding that Atiku personally received a bribe.
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The APC council has nevertheless seized on the findings to demand that Atiku withdraw from the 2027 presidential contest, while Atiku is expected to address the controversy at a press conference in Abuja amid intensifying political activity ahead of the election.
September 18, (THEWILL) – The Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, alleging that fresh disclosures from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration over the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project raise serious questions about his role in the controversial contract.
The council, in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesman, Dele Alake, accused the former Vice President of putting personal interests ahead of Nigeria’s national interest while serving under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The allegations came a day after an ICC arbitration tribunal sitting in Paris ruled in favour of Nigeria in the long-running dispute with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited over the Mambilla project.
The tribunal rejected Sunrise’s claims, including a $2.35 billion claim over the project, and also dismissed a separate $400 million settlement claim. It further ordered Sunrise and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria for 75 percent of its legal fees and expenses, amounting to about $11.82 million.
The ruling brought significant relief to Nigeria, which had faced potential exposure of more than $3.38 billion from related claims arising from the long-running Mambilla dispute.
However, proceedings examined by the tribunal also brought renewed attention to a $500,000 payment made by Adesanya on January 30, 2003, to the United States bank account of Jennifer Douglas, who was then married to Atiku, the Vice President.
According to the final award, the payment was made through China Castle Investments Limited, an offshore company controlled by Adesanya, shortly after Sunrise had submitted its tender for the Mambilla project and less than four months before the company was purportedly awarded a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract.
Adesanya told the tribunal that the payment was part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Atiku. The tribunal, however, rejected the explanation because it was not supported by sufficient corroborating evidence, according to details of the award reported by TheCable.
The tribunal also considered the timing of the payment in relation to the alleged contract award. Its findings noted a close temporal connection between the January 30, 2003 transfer and the purported award of the BOT contract to Sunrise on May 22, 2003.
The payment has consequently become a major political weapon for the APC campaign against Atiku, who emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In its statement, the APC Campaign Council alleged that Atiku and former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, worked together to facilitate the disputed Mambilla contract despite reservations attributed to Obasanjo.
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The council alleged that the contract was signed during the final months of Obasanjo’s first term, when Atiku was Vice President and wielded considerable influence within the administration. It further alleged that the transaction involving Douglas was connected to the contract and described the payment as a bribe.
According to details of the arbitration, Sunrise had been pursuing the project since 2001 and submitted its proposal to a multi-agency technical committee in January 2003. The committee subsequently recommended Sunrise for the project.
Former Minister of Power Olu Agunloye later sought approval from Obasanjo for steps towards awarding the project to Sunrise.
Obasanjo, according to evidence examined in the arbitration, directed that the matter be presented to the Federal Executive Council. The purported May 22, 2003 award subsequently became a central issue in Sunrise’s legal claims against Nigeria.
The long-running dispute eventually developed into international arbitration proceedings, with Sunrise seeking billions of dollars in compensation.
Sunrise commenced one of the major arbitration proceedings in 2017, claiming $2.354 billion for alleged breach of contractual obligations relating to the Mambilla project. A subsequent dispute involved a $400 million claim under a 2020 settlement agreement.
The final ICC ruling rejected the claims against Nigeria and held that the arbitration agreement under the settlement arrangement bound Adesanya. The tribunal also affirmed its jurisdiction over Nigeria’s counterclaim against him and his company.
The APC Campaign Council, however, has sought to connect the arbitration findings directly to Atiku’s political suitability.
Alake said the former Vice President’s alleged involvement in the Mambilla controversy demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice national interest for personal gain. He also criticised Atiku for not appearing before the Paris tribunal to give evidence, contrasting this with former Presidents Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, whom the APC statement said appeared in proceedings to defend Nigeria’s position.
The council further cited criticisms of Atiku contained in Obasanjo’s memoir, My Watch, including allegations concerning corruption, disloyalty and lack of transparency.
Alake said the $500,000 payment represented only the beginning of what the APC described as further revelations concerning Atiku and called on him to “bow out” of the 2027 presidential contest.
The APC spokesman also linked the Mambilla controversy to Taraba State, arguing that the prolonged dispute had contributed to the failure to develop a major hydroelectric project capable of generating electricity and stimulating economic activity in the state.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
