‘Nigeria No Longer a Soft Target for Predatory Legal Claims’ — AGF Fagbemi Warns After $400M ICC Arbitration Victory

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Republic of Nigeria will no longer serve as a soft target for predatory litigation and fraudulently contrived contractual agreements on the international stage.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, issued this stern warning following a landmark victory at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Arbitral Tribunal in Paris, which completely dismissed a $400 million financial claim over the 3,050-megawatt Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project.

The decisive ruling, delivered on September 17, 2026, throws out the entire action brought against the country by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (Sunrise) and its principal, Mr. Leno Adesanya.

In a press statement released, Fagbemi credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for maintaining a firm stance against succumbing to fraudulent adverse claims, providing the critical logistical and financial backing needed to defend the nation’s integrity.

Unmasking a Decades-Long ‘Modus Operandi’ of Corruption

The arbitration saw Sunrise demanding a $200 million settlement sum and an additional $200 million “default sum,” alongside a 10% daily compounded interest rate. This was in addition to a separate, parallel claim by Sunrise exceeding $2.7 billion.

The ICC Tribunal comprehensively rejected Sunrise’s demands, ruling that the underlying Settlement Agreement and its addendum were completely unenforceable.

According to the Tribunal, the agreement was a direct product of systemic corruption and violated Nigerian public policy. The panel found that Mr. Adesanya had engaged in a decades-long campaign of bribery, funneling massive payments to senior Nigerian government officials connected to the Mambilla Project.

The Tribunal explicitly noted that a corrupt deal was struck between Adesanya and the former ministers who signed the documents, describing financial incentives as Adesanya’s established modus operandi.

Furthermore, the Tribunal ruled that those former ministers lacked the legal authority to bind the Federal Government without explicit presidential approval.

The Incalculable Cost of Nigeria’s Energy Gridlock

The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is one of the largest and most strategically vital infrastructure initiatives in Nigeria’s history. However, its development has been held hostage since 2003 by Sunrise’s continuous litigation, which began with claims surrounding an alleged Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) contract.

Because multi-billion-dollar funding from the China Export-Import Bank was strictly conditional on resolving these legal disputes, the project has been unable to achieve financial close for over two decades.

“The cost of this delay—measured in lost power generation, foregone industrial output, and continued energy poverty—is incalculable,” Fagbemi stated, noting how the legal stalling has wrongfully deprived the Nigerian people of 3,050 megawatts of clean, renewable energy.

Sunrise Hit with Severe Legal Financial Penalties

To deter future frivolous proceedings, the ICC Tribunal ordered Sunrise Power and Mr. Adesanya to bear the overwhelming majority of the arbitration costs.

The claimants are mandated to pay 75% of Nigeria’s legal fees and expenses, plus interest at 10% per annum compounded annually. The Tribunal expressed explicit hope that the heavy financial penalty would deter Mr. Adesanya and his corporate entities from launching further groundless legal actions against Nigeria.

Fagbemi reaffirmed that under his leadership, the Federal Ministry of Justice will remain unwavering in safeguarding the rule of law and defending Nigeria’s assets from predatory legal campaigns.