Nigeria Wins Mambilla ICC Arbitration Ruling in Paris
NIGERIA · LEGAL
Key Facts
- —What happened An ICC tribunal in Paris rejected Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria over the Mambilla hydropower project on 17 September 2026.
- —The context The dispute dates to a 2003 contract for a 3,050-megawatt plant, which Nigeria’s president calls illegal.
- —Why it matters Nigeria avoided a large damages award that could have strained public finances and the naira.
- —The catch The ruling removes a legal obstacle but brings no financing, contractor or start date.
- —Who it affects Foreigners living in or invested in Nigeria, and infrastructure investors watching African power projects.
- —What comes next How Nigeria collects the costs, and who it picks to build Mambilla, will show how fast the plant can move.
This story is part of our coverage of the France protests. Why France is protesting, strike dates, curfews and the 2027 race are in our dossier.
A Paris tribunal handed Abuja a clear legal win over a stalled 3,960-megawatt dam project. Building it is a separate challenge.
An arbitration tribunal of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris issued its final award on Thursday, 17 September 2026. The Mambilla ICC arbitration ruling rejected Sunrise Power’s claims against Nigeria over a hydropower project in Taraba State.
What the tribunal decided
The three-member tribunal issued its final award on 17 September 2026 in favour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It rejected the claims of Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd.
The dispute concerned the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project in Taraba State, eastern Nigeria. Sunrise had said Nigeria broke its duties under a 2020 settlement agreement and a later addendum.
The tribunal dismissed that claim. It also rejected Sunrise’s request for US$400 million, made up of a US$200 million settlement sum and a US$200 million default sum.
The panel also declared that Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise, is personally bound by the arbitration agreement with Nigeria. It said it has jurisdiction over Nigeria’s counterclaim against him and his company.
What Sunrise must pay
The tribunal ordered Sunrise and Mr Adesanya to reimburse 75% of Nigeria’s legal fees and expenses. The amount due to Nigeria is US$11,819,506.51.
Of that sum, US$2.5 million will come directly from money held in escrow by the ICC. It is to be released once the final award is formally notified.
Sunrise and Mr Adesanya must pay the remaining US$9,319,506.51 themselves. Interest runs at 10% a year, compounded annually, from notification until full payment.
The cost of running the arbitration itself was fixed at US$1,656,500. Sunrise and Mr Adesanya carry 75% of that, and Nigeria carries 25%.
Why the claim figure differs between reports
Nigerian outlets have reported the size of the dispute in different ways. Vanguard and Tribune describe a dismissed claim of about US$2.35 billion.
The presidency’s own statement describes a US$680 million demand for a settlement sum and interest. It says this related to another arbitration where Sunrise claims over US$2.7 billion.
Nairametrics added the two figures and reported combined disputes worth about US$3.38 billion. Some legal outlets say both sets of claims were rejected.
The government has not publicly set out the status of the larger claim in its statement. Readers should treat the headline totals as reported figures, not as sums confirmed by the award.
Tinubu welcomes the Mambilla ICC arbitration ruling
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu welcomed the result in a State House statement dated 17 September 2026. “Today’s ICC ruling clears the single biggest legal hurdle that has paralysed the Mambilla hydro power project for years,” he said.
He said the decision showed the state’s refusal to give in to such claims. He described them as “predatory and exploitative claims by corrupt local and international entities and their enablers and funders.”
Tinubu also commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late President Muhammadu Buhari, who both testified in the case. He praised Nigeria’s defence team, which included lawyers from the firm Paul Hastings.
He said Nigeria remains committed to “honouring its legal obligations” with genuine investors. He added that it would keep strongly defending itself against opportunistic claims.
A long and troubled project
The presidency describes Mambilla as a 3,960-megawatt hydropower project in Taraba State. The dispute dates back to a 2003 contract for a 3,050-megawatt plant under a build-operate-transfer model.
Tinubu’s statement calls that 2003 contract illegal. The project has stalled for years amid legal fights and questions about money.
The award clears a major legal obstacle. It does not by itself bring financing, a building contractor or a start date.
Why it matters to expats and investors
For people living in or invested in Nigeria, the main effect is lower legal risk for the state. A large damages award could have strained public finances and the naira.
Instead, the Mambilla ICC arbitration ruling leaves Nigeria owed money for its legal costs. It also removes one source of uncertainty that has hung over a long-delayed national power scheme.
But the ruling does not fix Nigeria’s power shortage. The award itself adds no new electricity to the national grid.
For investors in African infrastructure, the case is a reminder that winning in court and delivering a project are separate steps.
What is not yet known
It is not known whether Sunrise will challenge the award in the French courts, or whether it will pay. Sunrise has not made a public response to the award.
No construction timeline, financing plan or new partner for Mambilla was announced alongside the ruling. It is also unclear when the escrow money will reach Nigeria.
What to watch next
Attention now turns to how Nigeria collects the costs and who it chooses to build Mambilla. The next steps on funding and project structure will show how quickly the plant can move forward.
More: Nigeria news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Mambilla ICC arbitration ruling about?
Sunrise Power claimed Nigeria broke a 2020 settlement over the stalled Mambilla hydropower project. An ICC tribunal in Paris rejected its claims on 17 September 2026.
How much must Sunrise Power pay Nigeria?
Sunrise and promoter Leno Adesanya owe Nigeria US$11,819,506.51 in legal costs. US$2.5 million comes from ICC escrow, and the remaining US$9,319,506.51 carries 10% yearly interest.
Does this mean Mambilla will now be built?
Not automatically. The ruling removes a legal obstacle, but no financing plan or construction timeline has been announced.
Connected Coverage
Investing in Nigeria 2026: What Changed, What It Pays and What to Watch
Sources: State House, Presidency of Nigeria, statement of 17 September 2026; Voice of Nigeria; Vanguard; Nigerian Tribune; ThisDay; Nairametrics; TheNigeriaLawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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