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Mambilla: ICC Orders Sunrise Power to Pay Nigeria $11.8m After 9-Year Battle
An International Arbitration Tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris has ruled in favour of Nigeria, rejecting claims brought by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited over the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State.
The tribunal, in its award issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026, also ordered Sunrise Power and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria 75 per cent of the legal fees and expenses incurred in the arbitration, amounting to $11.8 million.
The ruling came nearly nine years after Sunrise commenced arbitration proceedings against Nigeria in October 2017.
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According to details of the award, Nigeria’s legal fees and expenses were assessed at $11,819,506.51. Of the amount, $2.5 million is to be released from funds held in escrow by the ICC, while Sunrise Power and Adesanya are required to pay the remaining $9,319,506.51, with interest accruing at an annual rate of 10 per cent, compounded annually, until the outstanding amount is fully paid.
The tribunal also fixed the arbitration costs at $1,656,500, with Sunrise Power and Adesanya responsible for 75 per cent and Nigeria responsible for the remaining 25 per cent.
The dispute is connected to the development of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, which the Federal Government has identified as a major power project in Taraba State.
The company had made a claim against the Federal Republic of Nigeria, demanding $680 million as a settlement sum and interest in respect of another arbitration in which it was claiming more than $2.7 billion in compensation and interest relating to disputes associated with the development of the project.
In a separate aspect of the dispute, Sunrise Power had sought an order compelling Nigeria to pay $400 million, comprising a $200 million settlement sum and a further $200 million default sum.
The tribunal rejected the claim and dismissed Sunrise Power’s assertion that Nigeria had breached its contractual obligations under the settlement agreement and its addendum.
The panel also declared that Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise Power, was bound by the arbitration agreement with Nigeria under the settlement agreement and addendum. It further held that it had jurisdiction over Nigeria’s counterclaim against Adesanya and his firm.
The arbitration dates back to a disputed 2003 agreement concerning the construction of a hydroelectric power plant in Taraba State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said the original contract was for a 3,050-megawatt hydroelectric plant under a build-operate-transfer model, but maintained that the Federal Executive Council never authorised the contract.
The broader Mambilla project has subsequently been associated with a planned capacity of 3,960MW.
Reacting to the ICC award, President Tinubu said the decision affirmed Nigeria’s determination to resist what he described as “predatory and exploitative claims by corrupt local and international entities and their enablers and funders.”
Tinubu also commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, and the entire team at the Federal Ministry of Justice for their efforts in defending Nigeria’s position.
He also praised Nigeria’s defence team, led by Elizabeth Oger-Gross and Tolu Obamuroh of Paul Hastings LLP, for what he described as their professional and excellent defence of the country.
The President further commended the patriotism and support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who testified in the case.
He noted that the dispute dated back to the controversial 2003 contract for the proposed hydroelectric plant in Taraba State.
Tinubu also thanked former ministers Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and Suleiman Adamu, as well as the experts and other witnesses who participated in the proceedings and helped defend Nigeria’s interests.
The President acknowledged the support of the National Security Adviser and commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its investigation into the case.
Tinubu described the ICC decision as a major development for the Mambilla project, saying the ruling had cleared the “single biggest legal hurdle” that had paralysed the hydropower project for years.
The President assured that Nigeria remained committed to partnering with genuine investors and honouring its legal obligations.
However, he said the country would continue to defend what he described as opportunistic claims against the nation’s commonwealth.
The ICC ruling therefore brings a major chapter of the long-running legal dispute surrounding Sunrise Power and the Mambilla project to a close, while removing the immediate arbitration claim that had exposed Nigeria to billions of dollars in potential liability.
The 15th edition of the Practical Nigerian Content Forum (PNCF) is billed for Yenagoa, Bayelsa State from November 30.
This edition of the initiative of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would hold be in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Government as disclosed on Tuesday when a delegation of the NCDMB and DMG Events met with the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr Peter Pereotubo Akpe, at the Government House, Yenagoa.
Leading the delegation, the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division of NCDMB, Dr Obinna Ezeobi, conveyed the appreciation of the Executive Secretary of the board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, to the state government for its continued support for the forum.
He said, “We appreciate the Bayelsa State Government for its continued partnership and support for the PNC Forum”.
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According to him, the Youth PNC was designed to expose young people in the Niger Delta to emerging opportunities in the oil and gas industry and the competencies required to build successful careers in other sectors of the economy.
Ezeobi added, “We have introduced new initiatives into this year’s programme to ensure that the PNC continues to deliver greater value to participants and address emerging issues in the Nigerian content space.”
The Senior Manager, Zonal Coordination, NCDMB, Mr Adebayo Joseph, spoke on plans for the Youth PNC, while the leader of the DMG Events delegation, Ms Olamide Oloko, outlined the major activities planned for the conference.
Oloko said the new initiatives would include a Local Content Roundtable and a two-day programme for Local Community Contractors aimed at helping them scale up their operations.
She added, “The 2026 edition will also feature a breakout session to collate stakeholders’ views on the future direction of Nigerian Content over the next decade.”
Responding, Akpe assured the NCDMB and DMG Events of the state government’s continued support for the PNC Forum.
Akpe said, “The Bayelsa State Government is committed to ensuring that the event is successful and that participants have a conducive and secure environment throughout their stay in the state.”
He said the initiative demonstrated the practical impact of the programme and urged the board to sustain efforts aimed at creating opportunities for young people in the region.
Nigerian women allegedly being held at a deportation facility in India have cried out over their treatment, with a video circulating online showing some of them displaying injuries and alleging that security personnel flogged detainees.
The video began circulating online on Wednesday and shows a group of Nigerian women inside and around what they described as a deportation camp.
Several of the women pointed to marks, bruises and apparent injuries on their legs, feet and bodies while alleging that they were beaten with sticks or canes.
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“See my video, see my leg,” one of the women could be heard saying in the footage.
Another woman said, “Mona see wetin dem dey do for deportation camp.”
“Deportation camp, na dem flog person, see,” another woman said while showing what appeared to be an injury.
The women further alleged that female detainees were beaten with sticks.
“Dem dey use stick dey flog women, mona dey see am,” one of them said.
Another woman, while pointing at an injured detainee, said, “Dem carry cane flog o… see her body, dem flog am.”
The women also alleged that police officers carried sticks inside the facility.
“Police carry stick like say dem dey cut firewood,” one of the women said.
The footage shows the women appearing distressed as they moved through the facility and gathered in an outdoor area.
They repeatedly appealed to Nigerians to share the video and draw attention to their situation.
“Make una see… make this video trend/go,” one woman said.
“Make una share am,” another added.
One of the women also expressed frustration over their alleged experience at the facility, saying, “We don suffer, every time, every time.”
The footage comes amid ongoing concerns over Nigerians detained at the Lampur detention centre, also known as Sewa Sadan, in New Delhi.
Recall that in September, reports emerged that more than 200 Nigerians were being held at the facility, with some detainees alleging poor food, inadequate medical care and prolonged detention.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) subsequently defended its handling of the situation and said the Nigerian High Commission in India was seeking another amnesty period to facilitate the departure of Nigerians without proper immigration documentation.
No official response from the Indian authorities or the Nigerian government specifically addressing the allegations in the latest video had been made available at the time of publication.
Rights activist, public affairs analyst and Chief Executive Officer of The Dialogue, Shehu Muhammad, has questioned the continued occurrence of military aircraft crashes despite the huge budgetary allocations to the country’s defence and security sector.
Muhammad spoke while reacting to the recent Nigerian Navy aircraft crash in Irele Local Government Area of Ondo State during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.
Describing the incident as “one incident too many,” he recalled that Nigeria had recorded several military aircraft crashes involving the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army over the years.
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He said the recurring incidents had raised concerns among members of the public about the condition of military aircraft and the process through which military hardware is procured.
“People have begun to cast aspersions as to the honesty, sincerity, and openness in the purchase of military hardware, including airplanes,” Muhammad said.
According to him, the concerns are heightened by the substantial funds allocated to the military and other security agencies over the years.
“There are insinuations by the public that, after all, the military receive the highest amount of money from the budget year in, year out,” he said.
Muhammad also questioned the transparency of defence procurement, particularly the process of selecting contractors for the supply of military equipment.
He argued that the repeated crashes should prompt authorities to examine military aviation operations, aircraft procurement and the management of defence resources.
The latest crash occurred in Irele, Ondo State, with recovery efforts reportedly complicated by the difficult terrain around the crash site.
Muhammad said the latest incident should not be treated in isolation, but should lead to broader questions about military aviation safety and the management of resources allocated to the defence sector.
He called for greater transparency and accountability in the procurement and management of military hardware to restore public confidence.
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