Alleged $6b Mambilla Power Contract: President Tinubu Hails EFCC for FG’s Victory at Arbitration Tribunal

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed appreciation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for its investigation of the alleged fraudulent contract award of $6 billion for the construction of 3,960mw Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.
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The Commission’s investigations were pivotal to the September 17, 2026 victory of the federal government over the contractor company at the International Arbitration Tribunal.

The President in celebration of the federal government’s victory over SPTCL hailed the Commission for its findings in the irregular contract award.

“On behalf of the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I strongly commend the tremendous efforts of 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 this matter.

“I also commend the FRN defence team, led by Ms Elizabeth Oger-Gross and Mr Tolu Obamuroh, both of Paul Hastings LLP, for their professional and excellent defence of the country.
“I commend the patriotism and support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and late President Muhammadu Buhari, who testified in the case, which dated back to an illegal 2003 contract to build a 3,050-megawatt hydroelectric plant in Taraba State under a build-operate-transfer model. The Federal Executive Council never authorised the contract.

“I thank the other witnesses in this case, including former Ministers Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and Suleiman Adamu, and the experts, for their active participation in defending Nigeria’s interest in the arbitration.
“I commend the National Security Adviser for his support and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for its investigation into the case.

“I want to assure you that while our country remains committed to partnering with genuine investors and honouring its legal obligations, it will continue to defend all opportunistic claims instituted against our commonwealth, strongly”

“Today’s ICC ruling clears the single biggest legal hurdle that has paralysed the Mambilla hydro power project for years” he said.

The International Arbitration Tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC, Paris, while ruling in favour of the country, rejected the damages of $680 million demanded by SPTCL as a settlement sum and interest in respect of another arbitration in which it is claiming over $2.7 billion in compensation and interest, relating to disputes associated with the construction of the 3960mw Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project in the arbitration instituted by the company against the federal government.

The former minister of power, Olu Agunloye had on May 22, 2003 awarded the project on a Build, Operate and Transfer Basis” to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited, SPTCL.

Investigations by the EFCC established that the former minister awarded the contract without the approval of the National Executive Council, then chaired by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, making such award inconsistent with federal government’s procedure on award of contracts.

Investigations showed that the award was suffused with favouritism as the owner of the company, Leno Adesanya and the former minister are old time pals, who also in August, 2019 caused SPTCL to transfer the sum of N3,600,000.00 (Three Million Six Hundred Thousand Naira) to the former minister’s Guaranty Trust Bank account no.0022530926.

EFCC

These non-standard developments surrounding the contract led to its revocation by the former President Muhammadu Buhari’s government and the subsequent prosecution of the minister on a seven-count charge, bordering on fraudulent award of contract and official corruption by the Commission.

Agunloye’s prosecution subsists since Wednesday, January 10, 2024.

He was arraigned before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja,

SPTCL dragged the federal government to the International Arbitration Tribunal, seeking monetary compensation for the contract the Tribunal established it never awarded in the first place.
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EFCC Hands Over Recovered N140m to Loan Firm in Lagos

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, handed over the sum of N140,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Forty Million Naira) to an investment and money-lending company, B4 Sail Limited.
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The recovery of the funds, handed over in bank drafts by the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Bawa Usman Kaltungo, followed investigations into an alleged case of obtaining money by false pretence and diversion of funds involving one Jacob Oyebola Esan and companies linked to him.

In a petition submitted on April 20, 2026, B4 Sail Limited alleged that Esan, on behalf of his company, Geo Fields Plc, had approached the company in August 2025 for a N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) loan facility to boost his business.

The loan facility, according to the petitioner, attracted an interest rate of 15 per cent per month and had a tenor of one month.

Investigation revealed that Esan, who is the first suspect, had previously obtained other loan facilities from the company, bringing his total loan exposure to N1,065,000,000.00 (One Billion, Sixty-Five Million Naira).

It was also revealed that Esan pledged shares held by him as collateral for the facilities through Calyx Securities Limited, the clearing house for the stocks, with the understanding that the shares would be subject to a lien in favour of B4 Sail Limited and that the company would have the first right of payment upon the sale of the shares.

The lien, investigation revealed, was communicated to B4 Sail Limited through a letter signed by the second suspect, Gbolahan Azeez Bello, Managing Director, Calyx Securities Limited.

Further investigation, however, revealed that the shares pledged as collateral had been sold without the knowledge of the petitioner, resulting in the suspect’s alleged default in repaying the facilities.

EFCC

Consequently, the outstanding loan and accrued interest had risen to N2,250,500,000.00 (Two Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Kaltungo stated that the recovery “represents a further step in the Commission’s efforts to ensure that funds and assets recovered in the course of its investigations are appropriately returned to legitimate owners and victims in accordance with due process.
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Nigerian Navy Uncovers 119,850 Litres of Suspected Stolen Crude Oil in Rivers

The Nigerian Navy, under Operation DELTA SENTINEL, has uncovered 119,850 litres of crude oil suspected to have been stolen, 350 litres of suspected illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and 25 parcels of suspected Cannabis sativa at an illegal refining site in Ogbogolo Community, Ahoada West LGA of Rivers State.
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The discovery was made on 17 September 2026 by personnel of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH following credible intelligence on the location. The suspected stolen crude oil was found in five dugout pits, while the suspected illegally refined AGO was recovered in six sacks. No arrest was made as the suspects fled on sighting the naval personnel. The recovered products and suspected illicit substances were handled in accordance with extant regulations.

The latest success comes shortly after the conviction of nine crude oil thieves by the Federal High Court in Uyo, following their arrest during a Nigerian Navy-led operation under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. The development highlights the growing impact of the operation, which combines sustained maritime and riverine interdictions with intelligence-led action to disrupt crude oil theft and illegal refining activities across the Niger Delta.

Nigerian Navy

The successive operational gains and successful prosecution of offenders demonstrate the significance of the Nigerian Navy’s sustained efforts under Operation DELTA SENTINEL. Beyond recovering stolen petroleum products, the operation continues to degrade the infrastructure supporting the illicit trade while strengthening the chain from detection and interdiction to prosecution and conviction.

Signed

Abiodun Folorunsho

Navy Captain
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