Malami rejects ICC's corrupt deal finding in Mambilla hydro case
Former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami rejected an ICC tribunal's September 16 finding that he made a corrupt deal with Sunrise Power promoter Leno Adesanya over Mambilla Hydroelectric Project settlement agreements that could have exposed Nigeria to $400 million in damages. The tribunal said the January and March 2020 deals lacked required presidential approval and were products of corruption, with Adesanya testifying that Malami and then-Power Minister Mamman demanded 50% of the settlement as bribes.
Malami countered that the Mambilla dispute predated his tenure by over a decade, stating he followed an April 2016 presidential directive to resolve the long-standing controversy. He noted President Buhari twice rejected the $200 million payment due to insufficient funds, and that he instructed federal lawyers to resist Sunrise's enforcement attempts after Buhari's refusal.
Despite the corruption finding against Malami, the tribunal rejected Sunrise's $400 million claim against Nigeria and related claims, removing potential exposure exceeding $3.38 billion. It ordered Sunrise and Adesanya to reimburse Nigeria approximately $11.8 million in legal fees and arbitration costs.
Malami currently faces trial for various alleged financial crimes. Will this ICC finding strengthen Nigeria's anti-corruption efforts, or be interpreted through the prism of his ongoing legal troubles?