By Tunji Oladejo
The Mambilla Energy Project has been embroiled in controversy, involving several high-profile figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr Olu Agunloye.
At the centre of the issue is a $6 billion contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited in 2003, during Obasanjo’s administration for the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. However, the project has been plagued by delays, funding issues and a bitter legal dispute.
Agunloye, who signed the contract on behalf of the Nigerian government, has been accused of fraud and is currently facing a seven-count charge. He claims that Obasanjo is spreading falsehoods to obscure his involvement in the project and that he is being scapegoated by the government.
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Obasanjo has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he never approved the contract and that Agunloye acted without his permission. However, Agunloye alleges that Obasanjo is trying to protect his legacy and that the former President’s actions are motivated by personal conflicts with Atiku Abubakar and Leno Adesanya, the owner of Sunrise Power Company.
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The project has also been linked to other high-profile figures, including former President Goodluck Jonathan and former Governor of Oyo State, Christopher Alao-Akala, although their exact roles and involvement are unclear.
The Mambilla Energy Project remains a contentious issue, with the Nigerian government, Sunrise Power, and various individuals embroiled in a complex web of allegations, counter-allegations, and legal disputes.
A tun ti ja si ibi kan. Ibo ni a n lo?
Tunji Oladejo writes from the University of Ibadan via oladejo65@gmail.com
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