APC Campaign Council raises fresh allegations against Atiku over Mambila project
APC logo
Nike Popoola
The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council has accused the African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of compromising Nigeria’s interests over the stalled Mambila Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State.
The council, in a press statement issued by its spokesman, Dele Alake, in Abuja on Friday, alleged that Atiku and former power minister, Olu Agunloye, worked together to approve a disputed power contract with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited.
The statement, titled “Paris ICC Arbitration Court Ruling: Atiku Abubakar Unfit for Nigeria’s Presidency,” linked the allegations to hearings at the International Chamber of Commerce arbitration tribunal in Paris over disputes concerning the 3,960-megawatt Mambila hydroelectric power project.
According to the council, the contract was signed in the final days of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s first term, despite objections and reservations raised by Obasanjo at a Federal Executive Council meeting.
The APC campaign council further alleged that Leno Adesanya, through an offshore account, China Castle Investment, transferred $500,000 to the United States Citibank account of Jennifer Douglas, Atiku’s former wife, in January 2003.
It claimed that the payment and other transfers totalling $40 million were referenced in a US Senate investigation into Atiku and other leaders.
The statement quoted the ICC Paris Tribunal as saying: “There is a close connection in time between the moment the USD 500,000 payment was made to the wife of Vice-President Abubakar on 30 January 2003 and the alleged award of the BOT contract to Sunrise on 22 May 2003.”
The council alleged that the Nigerian government’s refusal to proceed with the contract led Sunrise and Adesanya to pursue claims against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It said the claims included a demand for $680 million as settlement and interest in respect of another arbitration, as well as a claim exceeding $2.7 billion in compensation and interest over disputes relating to the Mambila project.
The APC campaign council compared the matter with the claim by Process and Industrial Development against Nigeria over a gas project, which it said involved an $11 billion demand.
The council also alleged that Atiku stayed away from the Paris hearing, while former Presidents Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari attended to defend Nigeria.
The statement further cited remarks attributed to Obasanjo in his book, My Watch, concerning allegations of corruption, disloyalty and lack of transparency against Atiku.
The APC campaign council called on Atiku to withdraw from the presidential race, describing the alleged $500,000 payment as part of wider revelations it said would emerge.
It also urged the people of Taraba State to take note of the allegations, linking the stalled Mambila project to the state’s potential economic benefits.
The allegations were contained in the APC Presidential Campaign Council’s statement signed by Alake. The statement did not include a response from Atiku, the African Democratic Congress or other parties named in the allegations.
