Former Nigerian Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari have strongly defended Nigeria in a $2.3 billion arbitration case at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris. The case involves allegations that the federal government breached a contract related to the Mambilla Power Project.

Sunrise Power, a company led by Leno Adesanya, initiated the arbitration in 2017, claiming $2.354 billion in damages after accusing Nigeria of failing to honor a 2003 agreement. The agreement was for a “build, operate, and transfer” power project, which Sunrise Power argues was undermined by the government’s actions.

During the hearings, which began on January 18, both Obasanjo and Buhari testified. Sources say their testimony was well-received by the tribunal and Nigeria’s legal team, with both leaders offering clear and detailed accounts of the project’s history and the government’s involvement. Former ministers, including Engr. Sulaiman Adamu and Babatunde Raji Fashola, also testified in support of Nigeria’s case.

Sunrise Power’s case weakened when key witnesses, including former Minister of Power Olu Agunloye and others, failed to testify. In addition, former Attorney-General Michael Aondoakaa returned to Nigeria without giving his testimony, and a critical Senegalese witness also missed the hearings.

The panel has now moved on to the expert testimony stage, with a decision expected after all written arguments are submitted. The arbitration remains confidential, with little media coverage allowed.
The dispute stems from Nigeria’s termination of Sunrise Power’s role in the Mambilla project. After an out-of-court settlement in 2020 awarded Sunrise $200 million, the company later filed a $400 million claim, citing the government’s failure to honor the settlement terms. Sunrise also pushed for reinstatement as a local partner for the revamped $5.8 billion project. Efforts to contact Sunrise Power for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.