‘I DIDN’T TAKE A DIME!’—Ex-AGF Malami Breaks Silence on $200m Mambilla Hydro Bribe Allegations
ABUJA, NIGERIA—Nigeria’s successful defence in the long-running Mambilla arbitration case has drawn a response from the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.
According to a statement issued by his office, Malami welcomed Nigeria’s victory in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project arbitration involving Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
The arbitration was instituted by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in connection with the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, a dispute that has spanned several administrations, ministries, Attorneys-General and contractual arrangements.
Malami’s office, however, cautioned that while serious findings have been reported from the 616-page arbitral award, the proceedings were commercial arbitration proceedings and not a criminal prosecution of Malami.
“The arbitral proceedings were commercial in nature and should not be presented as a criminal trial or conviction of Abubakar Malami, SAN,” the statement added.
The now embattled former justice minister, who is facing separate criminal trials in court, stressed that the award should not be misrepresented as a criminal conviction, noting that Malami was neither standing trial before a Nigerian criminal court nor, according to the statement, accorded an opportunity to state his own side as a party to the proceedings.
“At no time was Malami standing trial before a Nigerian criminal court over the matter, nor was he accorded the opportunity to defend himself as a party in the arbitration,” the statement said.
Dispute Predates Malami’s Tenure
According to the statement, the Mambilla contractual controversy did not begin during Malami’s tenure. It traces the dispute back to 2003, when Sunrise Power became involved in the proposed hydroelectric project, and says earlier government decisions led to litigation and competing contractual claims before Malami assumed office.
Malami’s office said his involvement followed governmental and presidential processes, including a 2016 presidential directive concerning the resolution of outstanding disputes connected to the project.
The statement explained that settlement discussions, including the reported US$200 million figure, were considered in the context of Sunrise’s multibillion-dollar claims, ongoing litigation, financing concerns, and delays to the project.
The former minister also denied enjoying any personal benefit. In response to claims of a corrupt arrangement between him and Sunrise promoter Leno Adesanya.
“Malami rejects any suggestion that his official actions were undertaken for personal financial benefit,” the statement noted.
“Allegations of such gravity must be examined against the full evidentiary record, not through selective excerpts or partisan interpretation,” the statement added.
Legal position
The statement also highlighted Malami’s alleged instruction to Federal Government lawyers to resist Sunrise’s attempt to enforce settlement terms after Nigeria declined payment, saying that sequence should form part of any comprehensive assessment of his conduct.
“Nigeria’s victory in the arbitration should remain the central national outcome, while any findings concerning public officials should be carefully tested against the complete record,” the statement said.
Malami’s office said Nigeria’s arbitration victory should remain an important national outcome, while findings concerning former public officials should be examined carefully and answered on the evidence rather than through selected media excerpts or partisan interpretation.
