Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has rejected allegations that he was involved in a corrupt arrangement in the $2.7 billion Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project arbitration. Malami's denial follows Nigeria's reported victory in the long-running dispute, which he described as a vindication of his tenure.
Malami stated that he never engaged in any corrupt deal regarding the Mambilla project and welcomed the arbitration outcome. He emphasized that his actions as Attorney-General were always in the best interest of Nigeria. The allegations had surfaced in connection with the project's contractual disputes.
The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, located in Taraba State, is a proposed 3,050 MW facility that has been stalled for decades due to legal and contractual issues. The arbitration involved claims related to the project's concession. Nigeria's victory, if confirmed, would avert a significant financial liability.
Malami served as Attorney-General from 2015 to 2023 under President Muhammadu Buhari. He has been a controversial figure, but no court has convicted him of corruption. The arbitration ruling is expected to have implications for future infrastructure contracts.
