Fresh Troubles For Atiku
OpenLife News has reliably gathered that fresh troubles are looming for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other top public office holders named in the alleged shady deals surrounding the $2.7 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.
This is as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has set up a special investigative team to probe individuals indicted in the award issued in favour of Nigeria by an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Tribunal in Paris.
Insiders familiar with the matter said the new team is being supervised directly by EFCC Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, confirming the significance of the task.
The move follows the tribunal’s award on Thursday rejecting all claims by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, who had demanded $680 million as settlement and over $2.7 billion in compensation over the 3,960 MW Mambilla Power Project in Taraba State.
Instead, the tribunal ordered Sunrise and Adesanya to refund Nigeria $11.8 million in legal fees, describing many of their transactions as shady, corrupt and questionable.
President Bola Tinubu, reacting to the victory, said it affirms Nigeria’s resolve not to succumb to predatory and exploitative claims by corrupt local and international entities.
Atiku, Malami, Others Named
A review of the tribunal’s award shows several Nigerian politicians were named for dealings with Adesanya.
They include Atiku Abubakar, his then-wife Jennifer Douglas, former AGF Abubakar Malami, ex-Minister Olu Agunloye, former NSA Sambo Dasuki and his son Abubakar Dasuki, former Solicitor-General Abdullahi Yola and ex-Perm Sec Dere Awosika.
The tribunal severely criticised Malami for acting against national interest and maintaining an “inappropriate relationship” with Adesanya. Malami is already facing trial over alleged N8.7 billion money laundering.
For Atiku, the tribunal flagged a $500,000 payment made by Adesanya on January 30, 2003, from his offshore company China Castle Investments Ltd to Jennifer Douglas’s US account – less than four months before the Mambilla BOT contract was purportedly awarded to Sunrise.
Adesanya claimed it was a bureau de change transaction, but the tribunal said there was no documentary evidence – no naira record, exchange rate, or instruction – and neither Atiku nor Douglas provided a witness statement.
The tribunal said the payment, coupled with Atiku leading a 2002 delegation to Beijing that included Adesanya, raised “significant red flags” about possible influence.
Atiku has denied being indicted, saying he did not award the contract, but did not address the payment concerns.
The tribunal also questioned a $1.74 million payment by Sunrise to Abubakar Dasuki, son of Sambo Dasuki, in December 2014, which Adesanya claimed was a loan without any agreement.
Olu Agunloye, already on trial for forgery and receiving gratification, was tied to payments he claimed were “medical expenses.”
EFCC To Invite Atiku, Others
Sources said Atiku, his ex-wife Jennifer Douglas, and Leno Adesanya are expected to be invited by the EFCC in coming days.
EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale confirmed awareness of the development but said he has not been fully briefed.
On Friday, the APC had called on Atiku to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race, but Atiku’s aide Phrank Shaibu challenged them to show where the tribunal convicted Atiku of bribery, insisting “a commercial arbitration did not indict Atiku.”
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