The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has issued a notice declaring Leno Adesanya, the promoter of Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited, wanted for alleged conspiracy and corrupt offers to public officials.
The announcement came in light of ongoing investigations into the $6 billion Mambilla hydropower project contract. Adesanya’s name was mentioned in several charges against former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, who was arraigned on multiple counts related to the fraudulent award of contracts and official corruption.
According to the EFCC, Agunloye allegedly awarded a contract for the construction of the 3,960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in 2003 without proper budgetary provisions, approvals, or cash backing. Additionally, he was accused of corruptly receiving funds from Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited and Leno Adesanya for conveying false approval from the Nigerian government for the project.
While Adesanya has pleaded not guilty to the charges, Sunrise Power is currently engaged in arbitration with the Nigerian government at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. The company alleges a breach of contract, claiming it was awarded a $6 billion build, operate, and transfer contract in 2003 but faced rejection from the government at the time. Now seeking compensation of $2.3 billion, Sunrise Power contends it invested heavily in financial and legal consultants before the contract was terminated.
In response, the Nigerian government has accused public officials of fraud and corruption in the awarding of the contract, presenting its defense during the ongoing arbitration proceedings.