STATEHOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
ICC CASE: AB SUNRISE POWER AND TRANSMISSION COMPANY LIMITED (SUNRISE) V. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA (NIGERIA) V. MR. LENO ADESANYA
An International Arbitration Tribunal under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, today, September 17, 2026, issued an award in favour of our country, rejecting the claims in the arbitration instituted by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd (Sunrise).
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 is claiming over $2.7 billion in compensation and interest relating to disputes associated with the development of the 3960mw Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project, located in Taraba State.
This latest decision affirms the Nigerian State's determination not to succumb to predatory and exploitative claims by corrupt local and international entities and their enablers and funders.
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, GCFR, and late President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, 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.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
PRESIDENT BOLA AHMED TINUBU,
September 17, 2026
In 1994, after the Super Eagles won the AFCON in Tunisia, the Federal Government promised each member of the team a house. The pledge was redeemed after 28 YEARS.
We now have a TALK & DO President.
Mourinho doesn't care about looking good to you or anyone. He did the documentary to tell his story &what a story it is. The only thing he cares about is football.And winning.And writing history.Whether you like him or not, he doesn't care. He's living his life.
Guys, whatever they say, try and own your own house by the time you turn 40. Even if it is one room, let it be one room somewhere on this earth that you own. You can choose to rent it out and be a tenant elsewhere, but have a house to your name.
I am Ezemmuo. I know things.
Made a very big business mistake today.
Went to show a prospect a property my company has for sale.
He appeared to like the property.
To entertain the prospect and make him feel at home so the discussions and transaction can go smooth, I offered to take him to my personal residence in a nearby estate for lunch 😊
He changed his mind and now wants a property in my own estate, which he considers better but where I don't have a property for sale.
Business lesson learnt. Never ever show a more beautiful place (that you don't have business interest in) to a prospect in the middle of a transaction.
Na why some people dey hide their (more beautiful) friend during talking stage be this. 😭
I for no offer to take the prospect to my estate.
The company I worked in had 3 rounds of layoffs in my 10 years there.
Here are my observations in general
1. If your department is getting too big with many people being recruited, be careful. During layoff, your department’s hair may be the first to be shaved. There were only 2 of us in tax. About the only department not affected in all the three rounds. A number game.
2. If you are doing same work and your pay is continuously rising due to general annual payrises over time, egungun be careful. A young guy that will do that work for less your pay and grow may be favoured during layoff
3. If you are in Admin and other less technical roles, be careful. Especially if your pay is high
4. If you have had issue with a senior Oga before, be careful
5. If you have great interpersonal skills, it may save you. Grapevine had it that someone was in the layoff list until the eve of the layoff day was spared because of this soft skill. Name removed and they were posted to another department where their non-technical but human skill was considered a strength.
6. If you are multi-talented, it may save you. If you’re an accountant, for example, be the MC at your corporate event, volunteer for roles, participate in other activities. Don't likit yourself to accounting job.
7. Corporate institutional memory residing in you may also save you. You led an ERP change process? You led a major project? You’re the go-to for some fixes? But this may not be enough if a younger guy that worked with you is considered ripe enough.
8. Finally, plenty bootlicking . But not always enough. In fact, it may work against you if power changes hands and the camp you have been bootlicking are gradually eased out. I know someone stuck in one role because of this.
I first posted this last year.
For those who might want to learn:
1. When a defendant pleads guilty to a charge and the offense is not a capital punishment, the court will record the plea of guilt for the defendant and sentence the defendant to the appropriate sentence as may be prescribed by law.
2. When a defendant pleads guilty to a charge and the offence is a capital punishment, the court MUST record the PLEA OF NOT GUILTY and proceed to trial. If the court records the plea of guilty for a defendant in a capital offence and proceeds to sentence the defendant without a full trial, the sentence and conviction will be set aside on appeal.
3. When a defendant is charge for different offences, which include both capital and non capital offences, and the defendant pleads guilty to all the charges, the court must apply rule 1 above the the non-capital offences and rule 2 above to the capital offences. Which means that, for the non-capital offences, the court will record the plea of guilty, convict and sentence the defendant. For the capital offences, the court will record not guilty, even if the defendant has pleaded guilty, and proceed to full trial.
3. Where all the offences a defendant is charged are non-capital offences and the defendant pleads guilty to some counts and not guilty to other counts, the court will records plea of guilty to the count in respect of which a defendant has pleaded guilty, convict and sentence accordingly. For the counts which the defendant has pleaded not guilty, the court will proceed to trial for the determination of guilt as the defendant is presumed innocent of those counts he has pleaded not guilty to.
NB: Capital offences are offences that attract death penalty and they include: murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and terrorism resulting to death.
Thank you.
The Golden Ball is Messi’s. Not up for debate. No player has bent his team’s fortunes to his will the way he has this tournament. That’s before you get to the numbers, before you note where all of it landed his team: the final.
The Golden Boot? Hard to top Mbappe. But never write Messi off.
Unai Simon takes the Golden Glove.
Best Young Player is Merit versus Marketing. Cubarsi has had the better tournament. Yamal is the bigger brand. One of them will take it. Either will be deserving, somehow.
PS: Golden Ball, Golden Glove and Best Young Player awards are often decided before the final is played.
Tonight, our nation has reason to give thanks.
The children and teachers abducted by Ansaru terrorists in Oyo State have been rescued by our security forces, alive and unharmed. No ransom was paid. No concession was made.
I salute every officer and operative whose courage, discipline, and professionalism made this possible.
To those who seek to spread fear through terror, know that the Nigerian state will pursue you relentlessly. We will protect our people, defend our communities, and never relent until peace and security prevail across our country.
BOLA AHMED TINUBU
President & Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria