Boss Picks

Nigeria vs Sunrise: The Battle on the Mambilla – Obasanjo, Buhari Testify –

Published

6 months ago

January 27, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

For Eti-Osa Lagos born Chief Leno Adesanya, Founder of Sunrise Power Limited, business must be not only be transparent, but seen to be transparent, and that has necessitated his long drawn battle with the Federal Government of Nigeria over the real awarded contractor of the Mambilla Power Project in Taraba State. The duo of Leno Adesanya and Sunrise Power are seeking $2.3 billion in compensation for an alleged breach of contract by the Federal Government.

The stories behind the Project has remained a riveting story of power play at the highest level, involving presidents, ministers and former ministers of high profile portfolios, businessman of profound abilities and other top past and present government functionaries. A previous The Boss investigation into the matter revealed that corruption, in addition to unnecessary powerplay contributed, and is still contributing to the comatose state of the project, and the unwarranted legal processes that have caused a great deal in revenue and man labour time loss to the country.

Many observers had wondered why such high octane misgivings and intrigues were witnessed during the Buhari Presidency.

On October 10, 2017, Sunrise initiated arbitration against Nigeria at the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris, seeking $2.354 billion in damages for “breach of contract” related to a 2003 agreement to construct the 3,050MW Mambilla power plant in Taraba State on a “build, operate, and transfer” basis, valued at $6 billion.

In a second arbitration, the company is demanding $400 million as compensation for the Nigerian government’s failure to honor the terms of a 2020 settlement agreement intended to resolve the dispute.

The tussle, which has dragged for an upward of 12 years since 2003, when it was first awarded by the Obasanjo administration, and counting, took another another dimension the previous week, when two former presidents of the country; Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) volunteered to testify against the businessman in far away Paris. Both, as well as former Minister of Power, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, among others attempted to prove that the contract awarded Sunrise and Leno Adesanya, was invalid.

Former Presidents Obasanjo and Buhari’s appearance at the Paris hearing could very well have been described as cameo, but for the seriousness of the situation. It was not a movie; a country’s integrity, and man’s quest to clear were at stake. Obasanjo and Buhari knew this. So their appearance to testify before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris, France, stating that the Federal Government never awarded a contract for the $6 billion Mambila Power Project to Sunrise Power, was well thought out.

Obasanjo and Buhari argued that the 2003 agreement, which Sunrise Power based its claims on, is invalid. They claimed that the agreement was signed by former Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, 24 hours after the Federal Executive Council rejected the contract award to Sunrise Power. Agunloye is currently facing trial for forgery, disobedience, and corruption related to the power project.

The testimonies of Obasanjo and Buhari were corroborated by other high-ranking officials, including Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi, former Minister of Power Babatunde Raji Fashola, and former Minister of Water Resources Engr. Suleiman Adamu. They were of the unanimous agreement that their testimonies are in the interest of the nation.

“It is very important for nation’s case that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, was successful in bringing two former presidents – Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari to testify at the hearing.

“By this action, the government of Nigeria sent a signal of its strong commitment to defending the nation’s interest.

“Both leaders-Obasanjo and Buhari-are known for speaking forthrightly and unequivocally, and this they were said to have exhibited in Paris.

“To the delight of the international team of lawyers representing Nigeria, the two past presidents did extremely well, exposing the Sunrise/Leno’s claim for what it is: an attempt at using fraud, deceit and lies to scoop settlement from Nigeria in the first instance, for the alleged violation of a 2003 contract for which there is no valid approval, a source told The Nation Newspaper.

The Nation’s source, which described the testifiers as team Nigeria, and united, abducted frowned at Leno for not producing any witnesses, added that “It was by and large a great showing, consolidated by the equally outstanding testimonies of former ministers Engineer Sulaiman Adamu, formerly of Water Resources, and Babatunde Raji Fashola, Power.

“The Arbitration Court in France had a week-long hearing 18th-23rd January in Paris on the ongoing dispute between Sunrise Company/Leno Adesanya and the government of Nigeria on the existence or the absence of a contract for the construction of the Mambilla Power Project.

“Although it is up to the chairman and other members of the tribunal to decide on who is right and who is wrong, it can be said at this point that Nigeria had a very good outing on the basis of certain facts that have emerged from Paris.”

It accused Adesanya and his Sunrise of relying on a purported 2003 agreement.

“The 2003 contract was established not to have been validly in existence. This is worsened by the fact that the complainants failed to produce their major witnesses.

“The much-touted appearance of a one-time Minister of Power, Dr. Olu Agunloye, did not also materialise. He was the one who allegedly signed a letter communicating the approval of the contract 24 hours after its rejection by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which meeting was presided over by Obasanjo.

“A third ‘key witness” a Senegalese lady, did not also appear at the hearing.

“So who spoke for Sunrise/Leno Adesanya?

“He did everything for and by himself.

“Another major setback suffered by the complainants was their over-reliance on an earlier witness statement deposed to by Abubakar Malami, Minister of Justice and Attorney General under President Buhari.

“Malami, on whose testimony the complainants made heavy weather, ended up lining up behind his former boss, President Buhari, to support and prepare him well for his (Buhari’s) testimony.

“This strategy had the dual benefits of ensuring Buhari’s successful testimony and at the same time pulling the rug from under Leno Adesanya’s feet,” the paper concluded.

It is still not clear however, why Sunrise was disqualified, except for the testimonies of the Nigerian government, and now the former presidents that the contract was invalid. Another question that continue to re-echo is which company has taken its place as Local Content Partner, and since the Chinese had committed to paying $millions of dollars to Sunrise, who will be receiving this payment? Again, was there was a tender, and under which circumstances did Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) issue these Chinese firms Due Process Certificates?

Much as Sunrise is no longer interested in the above question, but the recovery of it $2.3 billion, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not stopped hounding Agunloye of awarding the contract without budgetary provision, approval, or cash backing. However, Agunloye claims that the government is using him as a scapegoat to undermine Sunrise Power’s claims.

WHY I TESTIFIED – OBASANJO

In an exclusive interview granted Premium Times, former President explained his reasons for standing in the dock to testify.

He said, “I volunteered myself to testify in this case. Nobody sent me to do so. President Tinubu did not ask me to do so as speculated. I didn’t speak to anybody on my intention to testify,” Mr Obasanjo said.

“I decided to testify because of the statement made on the matter by Olu Agunloye. I considered his claims atrocious and thought it necessary to set the records straight.”

Obasanjo was Nigeria’s president between 1999 and 2007, the period when the contract with Sunrise was supposedly entered into. He is joined in blaming his former Minister, Agunloye, for the effrontery to award and signed the contract, even there was no executive permission. He described claims claims made by Agunloye as regards the $6 billion project as ‘atrocious’.

Obasanjo emphasized that his decision to testify was not influenced by President Bola Tinubu or any government official. Instead, he wanted to set the record straight about the contract, which was awarded during his administration in 2003.

“I volunteered myself to testify in this case. Nobody sent me to do so. President Tinubu did not ask me to do so as speculated. I didn’t speak to anybody on my intention to testify.

“I decided to testify because of the statement made on the matter by Olu Agunloye. I considered his claims atrocious and thought it necessary to set the records straight,” Obasanjo concluded.

In the same vein, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has defended Buhari’s appearance at the arbitration, saying the former president was not was pressured to testify, and that he did so willingly and out of patriotism.

HOW IT ALL STARTED – THE BOSS 2018 INVESTIGATION, DISCOVERY

Documents in the possession of The Boss indicate that a Nigerian company, Sunrise Power Transmission Co. Limited had been in the forefront of promoting this Project from the outset.

Prior to the official tender process, Sunrise started promoting the Mambilla Project as early as year 2000. It reportedly engaged the offices of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as well as the Nigerian Embassy in China.

Its successful promotion of the project led to the first state visit of then President Obasanjo to China in 2001 and Vice President Atiku in 2002.

It was thereafter, that a bidding process was opened for the project and the Ad-Hoc Inter-Ministerial Committee recommended Sunrise and its Chinese Partners. On April 7, 2003, the Committee wrote the President for approval to officially issue an award letter.

Therefore, on May 22, 2003, the then Federal Ministry of Power and Steel (Now Part of the new Ministry of Power, Works and Housing) issued a letter of Award to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in consortium with North China Power Group as Technical Partners. The contract was for the construction of a 3, 960MW Hydroelectric Power Project in Mambilla on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement for a provisional six billion dollars. Sunrise accepted the offer.

In August 20, 2003, Sinohydro, which has its principal place of business at no.1 Ertao Biaguang Road, Xuanwu District, Beijing, PR China, North China Power Engineering Co. Ltd with its business address as 24a Huangsi District, Beijing and Sunrise located at Oluwa (Fowler) Road, Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria, signed a contract to work together on what was then the 3, 960MW project. Sunrise engaged Sinohydro to construct the project on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis.

After it has begun work, it got a shocking letter on September 3, 2003 from the Ministry of Energy (FMOE) claiming that the Federal Executive Council did not approve the memo recommending Sunrise for the project and directing Sunrise to tender for the project when it is advertised.

Sunrise sought a resolution without success. Sunrise and North China engaged Chief Afe Babalola, (SAN) to demand compensation.

A letter written by Chief Babalola dated February 4, 2005, read in part: “Your ministry cannot seek to repudiate the contract as it has attempted to do in the Ministry’s letter ….not after our clients have incurred expenses on the preparation incidental to the execution of the project.

“Consequent upon the preliminary steps towards execution of the contract, our clients have incurred well over Three Million Pounds while there are commitments to several consultants local and international in excess of Thirty Million British Pounds.”

While the dispute was on, Sunrise and it partners were still at work. An indication of this was a letter of intent written on April 15, 2005 by Dai Chunning, General Manager, Banking Department oF China Export-Import Bank to Sinohydro Corporation indicating its interest to provide $5.5 Billion for the Mambilla Project; the bank further stated that “We perused the information provided on the issue and are pleased to show interest and support in the proposed project by way of this Letter of Interest”.

Nothing was heard on the project until May 29, 2007 when, allegedly influenced by a Senior Government official, the Government awarded a part of the SUNRISE contract (Lot I, Civil/Hydraulic Steel Structures) of the (2,600MW Mambilla Hydroelectric) First Phase of the project to Messrs CGGC/CGC Ltd, in the sum of US$1.46billion.

The source of funding envisaged at the time of award was a combination of an Exim Bank of China loan of US$1 billion and funds from the Excess Crude Savings Account.

Of course, Sunrise did not take this lying down. It took the matter to the Federal High Court, Abuja suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2007. The defendants in the case were The Minister of Energy, The Attorney-General of the Federation, China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) and China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC).

Late President Umaru Musa Yar ‘Adua directed the Federal Ministry of Justice to investigate the Breach of Contract and USD 960 Million (Nine Hundred and Sixty Million United States Dollars) damage claim filed by Sunrise, and a Report (a copy of which is in our possession) from the Federal Ministry of Justice Indicted the Federal Ministry of Energy and CGGC/CGC of Gross Violation of Sunrise’s BOT Contract.

Furthermore, Mr. Michael Kaase Aondoakaa noted that Sunrise was not duly disengaged as Contractor on the project before government went ahead in May 2007 to engage CGGC/CGC for the same project.

He therefore, opined that Sunrise was in strong legal position to pursue a successful claim against the Federal Government; stating that “The best interest of the country can only be served by an amicable settlement of the parties so as to avoid the embarrassment that litigation would bring (to) the image of the country.” He sought Presidential approval to explore efforts of settlement of the matter.

Following a Presidential Visit to China in 2008, word reached late President Yar’Adua about an alleged $15m bribery that led to the award of the $1.46 billion contract to CGGC/CGC on May 29, 2007.

Late President Yar’Adua, we gathered then invited Sunrise, then Minister of State, Power (Late Hajiya Fatima Balaraba Usman), Minister of State and the accused Presidential official for a meeting.

After the meeting, President Yar Adua instructed then Attorney-General, Mr. Michael Aondoaka, SAN, to cancel the CGGC/CGC contract and restore the BOT Contracts to Sunrise immediately which was done at the Vice President’s Conference room in the presence of all Directors and Permanent Secretaries of both the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Justice.

After this unfortunate episode, Sunrise agreed to resolve its legal dispute against the Federal Government and CGGC/CGC Consortium amicably, by proposing that Sinohydro Corporation in partnership with Sunrise, on the one hand, should form a Consortium at a cost to be determined by the final project design to be undertaken.

In October 2012, the Federal Government decided it wanted to own the Mambilla HydroPower Project and wanted an urgent settlement. This led to the signing of the Settlement and General Project Execution Agreement (GPEA) between the Federal Ministry of Finance, then Honourable Minister of State, Power, Architect Darius Ishaku now Governor of Taraba State signed, and then Solicitor-General of Federation, Mr. Abduallahi Yola signed for the Federal Government.

Sunrise and Sinohydro also signed but CGGC and CGC refused to sign because the Ministry of Power/Federal Government had allotted only 30% of Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) works to them.

When the Federal Government filed the Settlement Agreement in Court at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Court rejected it because CGGC/CGC did not sign the Settlement and GPEA Agreements.

Thereafter a Stakeholders’ Meeting was convened at the Ministry of Power on November 23, 2012 and over 40 Stakeholders reportedly attended.

It was at this meeting that Mrs. Zainab Kuchi, new Minister of Power and the Solicitor-General of the Federation signed a new Out of Court Settlement Agreement with Sunrise (Its Chairman, Mr. Leno Adesanya signed) and also a new GPEA with Sunrise and Sinohydro (Its Technical and Financial Partners) was affirmed with a mandate to execute 100% of the EPC Contract.

In 2013, then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during a State Visit to China was called upon by the Chinese President “To please consider both Sinohydro and CGHC as EPC Contractors.”

The new Minister, Professor Chinedu Nebo then appealed to Sunrise to vote CGGC (Not CGC) as Co-contractor, a position that was accepted by Sunrise so that the project will be up and running.

As a result of that parley, On January 14, 2015, the Federal Ministry of Power, issued an Award Letter (No FMP/6145/S.11.1.185 of January 14, 2015) to Messrs CGCC and Sinohydro, specifically informing both Chinese companies that “Please note that based on the General Project Execution Agreement and Terms of Settlement agreed on the 23rd November, 2012 between the Federal Government on one hand and Sunrise/Synohydro on the other hand, Sunrise Power and Transmission Co. Ltd will serve as local content Partner on the Mambilla Project”

THE STORY CONTINUES…

When President Muhammadu Buhari assumed Power, like all past Presidents, the issue of power was key on his agenda. In fact during one of his very first interviews on Channels Television in 2015, he stated that “The 3050MW Mambilla Hydropower Projectis stalled because FGN refused to pay 15% counterpart funds to Chinese Contractors; Just 15 per cent”.

It was not therefore, a surprise that on June 29, 2015, President Buhari reportedly hosted Alhaji Lawal Idris for over an hour at the Presidential Villa. He was in the company of Mr. Leno Adesanya, the Chairman/CEO of Sunrise.

We gathered that Adesanya presented a comprehensive briefing on the history of his company’s involvement with the Mambilla Power Project and how Sunrise, his company already has subsisting contractual agreements with the Federal Government as regards its execution.

There was an indication that since there was another Sheriff in town, the project will start revving again. When it didn’t, Sunrise wrote Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, (SAN) on February 26, 2016, notifying him that it had held joint meetings with the two companies (SINOHYDRO and CGGC) in Beijing, and they have agreed to split the EPC Contract on a 50/50 basis; The Minister notified his Permanent Secretary, Mr. Louis Edozien in the letter.

A month later, on March 8, 2016, Engr. E.O. Ajayi, Director (Energy Resources) on behalf of the Minister, wrote to Mambilla project Consultants, Coyne et Bellier/Decrown, urging the company to send a reminder to Messrs Sinohydro and Messrs CGGC to submit the cooperation agreement detailing the division responsibility/section of works of the parties, noting that the consortium is jointly and severally responsible for the full implementation of the project. The Consortium was directed to submit the said agreement not later than March 31, 2016.

That was not all, many people involved in the project were now more enthusiastic when it was announced that President Buhari was preparing his first official visit to China.

He eventually embarked on the 4-day visit on April 10, 2016 but for some inexplicable reasons, this all important Mambilla project was not on the agenda.

We gathered from the delegation, that with pressure from Mr. Leno Adesanya, Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State and Chief Audu Ogbe, decided to bring the situation to the attention of a very angry President Buhari, who was upset that the Taraba Governor was not invited on the trip by the Minister of Power Works and Housing. In any case, that was how Mambilla hit the front burner and became one of the key issues of the Presidential visit.

On his return later that month, President Buhari sent his Chief of Staff back to Beijing to conclude the negotiations, which resulted in the agreed price of $5.79 billion

In addition, on April 25, 2016, Mr. President wrote through his Chief of Staff (Letter No. SH/COS/05/A/1847) to the Honourable Attorney-General, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, copying the Minister of Power Works and Housing (HMOPWH), to propose a strategy for resolving all the legal issues and disputes relating to the Mambilla Power Project including the matter of the “warring parties”.

As per the directive given by Mr. President, The Boss learnt that the Attorney-General held series of meetings with the parties involved, and on May 20, 2016 in a letter addressed to Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, the Attorney-General made the following recommendations:

1) Government should engage Sinohydro Corpration and CGGC jointly for the purpose of executing the Mambilla Project in line with the Spirit of the Letter of Award dated January 14, 2015, on a 50-50 basis or based on other technical parameters to be determined by the Project Consultants

2) Engage the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria/Chinese Government to ensure the success of the plan to award the job to two companies

3) Sunrise Power & Transmission Company Limited should be engaged as Local Content Partner on the Mambilla Project as a means of accommodating its prior contractual interests on the project

4) A joint meeting of the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing for the purpose of streamlining the above positions and advising Mr. President through the Chief of Staff accordingly should be convened.

Curiously, six days after this legal advice, the Chief of Staff allegedly invited a Kaduna-based Chinese Company (CGC Nigeria Limited) to a meeting at the Presidency.

Present at the meeting were Sinohydro, CGC, CGGC, Mr. Fashola and some top Ministry officials. It was at this meeting that Mallam Kyari urged these three companies to cooperate and form a Joint Venture.

Despite being told by the Chairman of Sinohydro, and Fashola about the existing agreements with Sunrise, the CoS insisted that they should go ahead with the new arrangement, and instructed the Chinese to deal directly with the Presidency and the Ministry; not their local partners.

Not still satisfied with that move, on January 23, 2017, the Attorney General, wrote the Minister of Power, Works and Housing. The letter, HAGF/SH/2017/Vol.1/14 was titled: Request To Convene A Meeting On Procurement Process For The 3020MW Mambilla HydroElectric Power Project in Light of Outstanding Legal Issues.

Fashola replied three days later in a letter: FMP/6145/S.11/Vol.11/517, noting that his ministry welcomes the meeting requested that aims to resolve all issues raised.

The Minister also wrote a letter to Mr. Leno Adesanya on May 3, 2017 in response to a letter that the former had written him on March 31, 2017. He asked Mr. Adesanya to present his observations at a Stakeholders Meeting to be scheduled by the Chief of Staff to the President as proposed by the Attorney-General.

While everyone involved was looking forward to that meeting, Mallam Abba Kyari fired a letter he personally signed to The Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing on May 22, 2017 with the title: Re: Letter Referenced FMP/6145/S.II/569 In Respect of Mambilla HydroProject

The two paragraph letter stated:

“Further to our discussion, kindly note that Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited is not party to the existing arrangements on this project.

“The Contractor engaged is Messrs CGGC-Sinohydro-CGCOC Joint Venture”.

Interestingly this letter was written when Mr. President was having his medical vacation abroad.

Messrs Sunrise must have been enraged by this unilateral decision of the Chief of Staff and consequently wrote the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who was Acting President at the time to intervene.

Mr. Leno Adesanya, who signed the letter as Chairman/CEO, updated the Acting President on the project, alerting him that it was the Chinese that informed them of the sad news.

He went on to make an appeal: “Your Excellency, permit me to say that over the years, we have pleaded with our financial partners to be patient with the FGN as various developments that delayed the project played out.

“We are however constrained to observe that the latest developments, if not rectified in line with the legal recommendations of the HAGF, prior to seeking FEC approval, shall leave us with no choice but seek legal redress where appropriate including against the Chinese government. We are however, confident that with your expected intervention, this reluctant prospect can be avoided.

“We trust your sense of justice and your commitment to the early realization of this project…”

The Attorney-General certainly was also unhappy with this development, little wonder that on July 24, 2017 he also wrote the Acting President.

Titled “Re: Correspondence In Respect Of The Procurement Process For The 3050MW Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project In Light Of Outstanding Issues”, he noted that following Mr. President’s directive of April 2016, he had developed a legal opinion, and had forwarded same to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

He re-affirmed his recommendation insisting that he informed the Chief of Staff to the President and Minister about this and he wanted the Acting President to give appropriate directive.

Well, it seemed the letters from these two men did not carry much weight because just like he had promised in the meeting in 2016, and his letter of 2017, Mallam Abba Kyari had his way and the Nigerian Company was kicked out. There was no word from the Vice President or his office on the matter.

We were told that many moves were made for a meeting, even President Buhari’s main man, Alhaji Mamman Daura, reportedly tried to arrange one of such meetings on September 30, 2017, but the Chief of Staff will have none of it.

He advised Mr. Leno Adesanya, whose company, Sunrise, had been short-changed to “go to court”.

Of course following the November announcement by Fashola, there was a chain reaction. Sunrise activated the Arbitration Clause of its November 23, 2012 GPEA Agreement, and approached the International Chambers of Commerce, International Court of Arbitration in Paris, France to take charge; and it is claiming $2.3 billion in damages and profit loss.

The ICC Case No. 23211/TO is between Sunrise, Federal Government of Nigeria and Sinohydro Corporation Limited.

Already the legal fireworks have begun: While Mr. Jeremie Chouraqui is lead Counsel for Sunrise, Mr. Richard Smellie is representing Sinohydro while Supo Shashore, SAN is representing the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Despite this move at arbitration, Sunrise, through its Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN has written to the Attorney-General (copied to Minister of Power, Works and Housing and Presidency) still seeking ways of an amicable settlement; because Sunrise wants to execute the EPC contract based on the full compliance of the July 24, 2017 recommendations of the learned Attorney-General, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, to the Federal Government.

The February 2018 letter was a last ditch request and appeal to the nation’s Chief Law Officer to intervene and midwife the resolution in line with his earlier recommendations which will save Nigeria over $2 billion, as well as stem the negative publicity that the trial will generate, especially now that Nigeria is trying to project itself as an investment-friendly destination.

THE MAN, CHIEF LENO ADESANYA

According a document made available to The Boss by the Sunrise office, Chief Adesanya’s personality is captured in the following lines:

Chief Leno Adesanya is a prominent Nigerian businessman and entrepreneur, renowned for the role he is playing in Nigeria’s energy sector. He hails from Eti-Osa Local Government Area in Lagos State and has spent several decades advancing power generation and transmission initiatives in the country. His expertise and ventures have placed him at the center of several high-profile projects aimed at addressing Nigeria’s energy deficits.

Business Ventures

Chief Adesanya is the CEO of Lutin Investments, a Geneva-based company, and serves as the promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL). Through these entities, he has spearheaded significant energy projects, leveraging strategic partnerships and investments to drive development in Nigeria’s power sector. His companies have collaborated with international partners, including Chinese firms, to propose large-scale solutions for the country’s energy challenges.

Involvement in the Mambilla Power Project

One of Chief Adesanya’s most notable endeavors is his involvement in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, located in Taraba State, Nigeria. This ambitious project, with an expected capacity of 3,050 megawatts, is among the largest hydroelectric initiatives in Africa. Designed to alleviate Nigeria’s chronic power shortages, the project’s progress has been hindered by delays, funding challenges, and legal disputes.

In 2003, Sunrise Power, in collaboration with Chinese partners, was awarded a $6 billion Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) contract by the Nigerian government.

However, the contract was annulled in 2007, prompting a series of legal disputes between Sunrise Power and the government. Chief Adesanya’s company subsequently filed a $2.3 billion claim for breach of contract, with the case currently in arbitration in Paris (Nairametrics, 2025).

Legal Disputes and Arbitration

The Mambilla Power Project has been entangled in prolonged legal battles, with multiple arbitration cases involving Chief Adesanya and his company. Testimonies from former Nigerian presidents and ministers have featured prominently in these cases, reflecting the project’s high stakes. Past administrations, including that of President Muhammadu Buhari, sought out-of-court settlements to resolve disputes with Sunrise Power. However, agreements were often reneged upon, prolonging the conflict (Businessday NG, 2025).

Controversies

Chief Adesanya’s involvement in the Mambilla Power Project has been subject to scrutiny and controversy. Allegations of bribery and corruption have emerged, with claims that he offered incentives to public officials to secure favorable outcomes for his company. In 2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared Leno Adesanya wanted in 2024 for an alleged case of conspiracy and corrupt offer to public officers related to the Mambilla project (Nairametrics, 2024). Despite these challenges, he remains a key figure in Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Legacy and Impact

Through his leadership of Lutin Investments and Sunrise Power, Chief Leno Adesanya has played a role in shaping discussions around Nigeria’s energy future. While his involvement in the Mambilla Power Project has been marked by legal and political complexities, his efforts underscore the critical importance of private sector participation in addressing Nigeria’s infrastructural challenges.

THE MAMBILLA POWER PROJECT: AN OVERVIEW

The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is a Hydroelectric Power station that is being developed on the Dongo River. When completed, it will be Nigeria’s largest power plant.

The Project goals include Increase access to electricity, Improve living standards for Nigerians and neighboring countries, Increase Nigeria’s electricity generation by 30, and Increase renewable energy use to 30.

Project details

The project is being developed by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power
The project is made up of four dams and two underground stations
The project is located in the eastern Nigerian state of Taraba
The project is being funded by the Chinese Export-Import Bank

Project challenges

The project has been involved in legal disputes
The project has faced challenges due to unreliable transmission and distribution networks

With the testimonies of the likes of Obasanjo and Buhari, the Nigerian government may be on a roller coaster of victory, but Chief Adesanya appears to still have some aces up his sleeves, and may pull a surprise comeback, armed with all the documents of the transactions at his disposal.

Time, as always, will tell.

Boss Picks

Dele Momodu Mourns Passage of Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari

Published

3 days ago

July 14, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Publisher, Ovation Magazine, and The Boss Newspaper, Chief Dele Momodu, has expressed deep condolences on the demise of former two-terms President and Head of State of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari, who died in a London hospital on Sunday.

Momodu, writing via his social media handle, wished the former soldier a goodnight, asking Allah to grant him Aljannatul Firdaus.

He wrote: “Goodnight Sir, Former President Muhammadu Buhari…May Allah grant your soul Aljannah Firdaus”.

Dele Momodu with President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari was 82 years when he died after prolonged illness. He is due for burial in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

Boss Picks

James Barnor @96: Sights and Sounds of the 2025 HACSA Sankofa Summit in London

Published

3 weeks ago

June 23, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Friends, family members and well wishers last week gathered in Chesterfield Hotel, Mayfair, London, to celebrate Ghanaian born ace photographer, James Barnor, as part of activities to mark the 2025 HACSA Sankofa Summit.

According to a post by the Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, who participated in the 2-day intellectual fiesta comprising hearty lunch and fireside chats, noted that the “moving session is a heartfelt tribute to his extraordinary legacy, which spans over six decades of capturing the soul of African identity, fashion, culture, and Diaspora life through the lens.”

The post further stated that “Today’s chat is not only a journey through visual history but also a celebration of life, as we mark James Barnor’s 96th birthday, a testament to a life lived with purpose, vision, and enduring impact.

“The atmosphere is both reflective and celebratory, bringing together cultural leaders, creatives, and changemakers who are united in honouring a pioneer whose work continues to inspire generations. This event encapsulates the spirit of the Sankofa Summit sponsored by Svani Groups, looking back to honour, looking forward to preserve, and moving together to build.”

This is wishing a happy 96th birthday to a prolific image hunter.

Boss Picks

Yvonne Khamati: The Coming of a Presidential Amazon

Published

4 weeks ago

June 22, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

With a focused eye on the presidency of the Republic of Kenya, seasoned diplomat and thorough bred politician, Yvonne Khamati, is a force to reckon with. She is by every intent and purpose born for leadership, having started very early to mount saddles of political and diplomatic seats, dishing out first class acumen and sound ambassodorial gestures that have placed Kenya in better corners of the world map.

As the July 2027 date for the election of a new president for the Kenyan Republic draws nearer, young, seasoned and tested Yvonne Khamati, who was born in 1982, is ready to move the nation to a new level, having set standards, conquered diplomatic territories, developed new horizons, and is set for the task ahead.

Khamati was born in Nairobi, Kenya, where he started his early education, attending elementary school before joining Stretford Grammar School, in Manchester, United Kingdom, where she completed her O-Level studies in 1998. By 1999, she returned to Kenya and attended Peponi High School, for her A-Level education, which she concluded in 2001.

Setting her mind to acquiring the best of academic tutelage, she devoted the period between 2001 and 2009, among other things, for intense studying, studying at various institutions of higher education including the University of Nairobi, the United States International University Africa and the online American World University.

Consequently, she earned a Diploma in Sociology & Criminology, a Diploma in Political Science & International Relations, a Bachelor of Business Administration from San Juan de La Cruz University (Universidad San Juan de la Cruz) and a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Counselling Psychology.

In 2012, she returned to the classroom, and earned a Professional Graduate Diploma in Management from Cambridge Association of Managers.

Currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Heroes Council, a parastatal under the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, Yvonne, as close friends, colleagues and family members address her, is a full-blooded Kenyan, and was nominated to the East African Legislative Assembly as Member of Parliament by Ford Kenya Party (and the Kenya National Assembly) at the age of 21. Yvonne cut her political teeth at a very young age, which put her at a gracious advantage of thorough knowledge of thr country’s political and economic terrain.

Again, as a diplomat, she was appointed by then President Mwai Kibaki to serve as Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative to Ethiopia and African Union at 24. She is a typical example of catch them young, and has garnered thorough and home-based experience requisite for leadership.

She has also served in the past, as the Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives and Rapporteur of the African Diplomatic Corp, in the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has also worked in various missions. As at November 2018, she served as the Deputy Ambassador of Kenya at the Kenyan Embassy in Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.

Yvonne has a larger than life credential trailing her, thanks to all exploits. It is worthy of note that in 2001, at the age of just 19, she was elected to serve as the Deputy Organizing Secretary of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya (Ford Kenya) political party, a position she kept until 2006. Whe she was later nominated by the party to the East African Legislative Assembly in Arusha, the appointment bestowed on her the status of the youngest MP to be nominated to the house. From August 2003 till March 2006, she was a research fellow at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), working in the Sustainable Development and Food Policy Division. Again, from April 2003 till January 2008, she served as the Chairperson of the Youth Technical Committee for NEPAD, appointed by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.In January 2008, she added diplomacy to her budding political career, when she was appointed by Kibaki, the then President of Kenya as Ambassador and DPR to Ethiopia and the African Union. She went on to became Deputy Permanent Representative of Kenya at the United Nations office in Nairobi, Kenya, working in that capacity until September 2012. In the same year, she was transferred to Kenya’s Embassy in Mogadishu, Somalia, as the Deputy Ambassador. She has served as Director FS in the Liaison Parliamentary and Senate Directorate at the Foreign Ministry HQ, Chairperson of the Committee of Permanent Representatives of UN HABITAT, Rapporteur of the African Diplomatic Corp and was Director FS in the Directorate of International Conferences and Events at the Foreign Ministry.

Khamati’s sterling performances over the years have drawn recognitions from.across thw length and breadth of the continent and the world at large. In December 2014, she was named one of “The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014”, by Forbes. A feat worthy of celebration.

In 2017 she was named among 100 top Africans under 40 by MIPAD (Most Influential people of African Descent).

On the side, she runs the YK Foundation which works on empowering women and the girl child in rural areas providing scholarships, sanitary towels, jigger treatment and feeding programs.

Khamati, who is married to Nigerian Oxford University trained lawyer, Laiwola Yahaya, and bless with two children; Zalika Kalani and Kazeem Yahaya, is a bundle of academic, entrepreneurial, diplomatic and leadership skills. These qualities set her apart to give Kenya the next leadership direction.