The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council has urged African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race over ICC arbitration revelations
The council alleged that proceedings before an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) tribunal in Paris had raised serious questions about the former Vice-President’s role in the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project controversy
Dele Alake, spokesman of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, made the call in a statement on Friday in Abuja
The arbitration involved Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd, its promoter, Leno Adesanya, and the Federal Government over the stalled project in Taraba.
The ICC tribunal ultimately rejected Sunrise’s claims against Nigeria and ordered the company and Adesanya to reimburse Nigeria for 75 per cent of its legal fees and expenses
The APC council focused on a $500,000 payment made by Adesanya to Jennifer Douglas, who was then married to Abubakar, on Jan 30, 2003.
According to the tribunal record, the payment was made through China Castle Investments Ltd, an offshore company controlled by Adesanya, into Douglas’ Citibank account in the United States.
The council alleged that the payment was connected to the subsequent award of a build-operate-transfer contract to Sunrise for the Mambilla project
It also alleged that Abubakar and former Power Minister Olu Agunloye worked together to facilitate the contract in spite of objections to the deal
The APC said the disputed contract was signed in 2003, when Abubakar was Vice-President under former President Olusegun Obasanjo
It alleged that the contract was not authorised by the Federal Executive Council and subsequently exposed Nigeria to substantial financial claims
The council cited the tribunal’s observation concerning the timing of the $500,000 payment and the alleged award of the Sunrise contract
According to the APC, the tribunal noted a “close connection in time” between the payment on Jan 30, 2003, and the alleged award of the contract on May 22, 2003.
However, the tribunal record also shows that Adesanya described the payment as part of a foreign-exchange transaction carried out for Abubakar
Reports on the award said the tribunal found that the explanation was not supported by documentary evidence, including records of the underlying naira payment or instructions from Abubakar or his aides
The tribunal did not make a finding that Abubakar received a bribe, according to a report on the final award
The APC campaign council, however, interpreted the revelations as evidence that Abubakar had compromised Nigeria’s interests for personal gain
Alake said the council’s position was reinforced by the financial implications of the arbitration and the prolonged delay in implementing the Mambilla project
He alleged that the disputed contract contributed to claims against Nigeria running into hundreds of millions of dollars and a separate claim exceeding $27 billion.
The APC spokesman also compared the Mambilla dispute with the Process and Industrial Developments (P&ID) case, which involved a multibillion-dollar claim against Nigeria over a gas project
Alake further criticised Abubakar for not appearing to testify before the arbitration tribunal, while former Presidents Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari testified in proceedings concerning Nigeria’s defence
He also cited criticisms of Abubakar contained in Obasanjo’s book, My Watch, particularly the former President’s allegations concerning corruption, transparency and national interest
The APC campaign council urged Abubakar to withdraw from the presidential contest, saying the revelations warranted further scrutiny
It also accused the ADC presidential candidate of bearing responsibility for delays surrounding the Mambilla project and its potential economic benefits to Taraba
The council said the project, if implemented, could generate substantial economic opportunities for the state and Nigeria
Abubakar has previously denied wrongdoing in connection with corruption allegations concerning the payment and related matters