Mambilla: Atiku Should Address the Issue of the $500,000 Bribe Allegedly Paid By Sunrise Power

By Bayo Onanuga

Atiku Abubakar was at his evasive best on Friday, avoiding comment on his indictment in Paris by the ICC over the illegal Mambilla Hydro Power Project contract that he and former power minister Olu Agunloye awarded to Sunrise Power without authorisation from the Federal Executive Council and President Olusegun Obasanjo. 

According to the hearings at the Tribunal, Atiku collected a $500,000 bribe from Sunrise and Leno Adesanya, the company’s CEO, to approve the contract. The money was wired in tranches to the US Citibank account of Atiku’s former wife, Jennifer Douglas, triggering red flags at Citibank and appearing, among other things, in the US Senate investigation into Atiku’s corruption and money laundering.

The tribunal in Paris said, “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.”

A man who cares about his integrity and wants to offer himself for leadership should address the integrity issue first, but instead he used his so-called World Press Conference to talk about his newfound campaign mantra: his pro-petrol subsidy stance. He also attacked the Tinubu administration, claiming it plans to withdraw electricity subsidies. The Power Minister, Joseph Tegbe, has already debunked that lie. But Atiku doesn’t care a hoot. He must weaponise everything in his desperation for power.

Atiku, the diverter-in-chief, takes Nigerians for buffoons, thinking that his crimes against the Nigerian people do not matter. Nigerians should not be deceived: Atiku does not have the people’s interests at heart. He cares more about himself.  

Nigerians should also consider what was at stake for the public treasury if Atiku’s allies succeeded in Paris. Sunrise and Leno Adesanya would have walked away from Paris with $3.38 billion, including the $680 million settlement sum and interest, plus the $2.7 billion claim for compensation and interest related to the non-development of the Mambilla Hydro Power project.

A politician who aspires to lead Nigeria must be willing to answer questions about his integrity. Atiku should respond to the $500,000 bribe directly rather than divert public attention with unsupported allegations against the government.