HURIWA hails AGF, EFCC for efforts to protect Nigeria from crippling financial liabilities

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has commended the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their continuing efforts to protect Nigeria from potentially crippling financial liabilities arising from questionable contractual and arbitration claims.

HURIWA said the latest International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) arbitration award concerning the long-running Mambilla hydropower dispute represents another significant development in the struggle to prevent Nigeria from being subjected to unjustified financial obligations running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

The National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, in a statement on Sunday said the 616-page final award delivered in Paris on September 16, 2026, reportedly rejected Sunrise Power’s claims in their entirety and severely criticised the handling of the dispute by former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN.

He said of particular concern to HURIWA are the tribunal’s findings that the settlement agreements involving Sunrise were products of corruption and unenforceable on grounds of Nigerian public policy, as well as its conclusion that Malami acted against Nigeria’s interests in the renegotiation of the settlement terms.

He said the tribunal further found that Malami and former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, lacked the authority to bind the Federal Government without presidential approval.

“It also found that the former AGF continued seeking presidential approval after then-President Muhammadu Buhari had expressly rejected the proposed settlement.

“HURIWA considers these findings grave enough to demand institutional scrutiny beyond the arbitration proceedings,” he said.

He called on the relevant professional and regulatory authorities to examine the findings contained in the ICC award and determine whether they disclose any breach of professional conduct by the former Attorney-General.

Onwubiko called on the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and other competent professional bodies to examine the matter within their statutory mandates and to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings if the evidence establishes a prima facie case of professional misconduct.

He said where such proceedings establish professional misconduct warranting further action concerning the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

He called on the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC), which has statutory responsibility for the SAN rank, to take whatever action is permitted by law.

Onwuibiko stressed that no professional distinction, however prestigious, should place any lawyer beyond accountability where credible findings raise questions about adherence to professional ethics and the duty owed to the Nigerian state.

He urged that by the role of the EFCC in investigating matters connected with the Mambilla dispute.

He said the ICC tribunal noted that Nigeria had informed it that Malami was under investigation by the EFCC at the time he declined to appear for oral examination.

Onwubiko urged that the EFCC to pursue any investigation involving the former AGF strictly in accordance with the law, due process and the available evidence, without political interference or selective enforcement.

He also commended the present Attorney-General of the Federation for defending the financial interests of Nigeria in a matter in which the country faced claims capable of exposing the treasury to enormous liabilities.

“The tribunal found that Sunrise had sought $400 million under the settlement arrangement, while its original arbitration claim was reportedly worth more than $2.3 billion.

“The tribunal ultimately rejected the claims and ordered Sunrise and its promoter, Leno Adesanya, to reimburse Nigeria more than $12 million in legal fees and arbitration costs,” he said.