Sunrise CEO Leno Adesanya Denies Political Ties Amid Mambilla Project Dispute
Leno Adesanya, CEO of Sunrise Power, denies any political ties to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
In Brief
- •Leno Adesanya, CEO of Sunrise Power, denies any political ties to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
- •He says his involvement in the Mambilla hydroelectric dispute is driven solely by the project’s completion, not political patronage.
- •ICC arbitration found a $500,000 payment to Atiku’s wife and a $1.74 million payment to Dasuki’s son to be questionable, rejecting Adesanya’s foreign‑exchange explanation.
- •Adesanya claims he has written multiple times to the Tinubu administration to resolve the dispute amicably.
Why It Matters
The Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, valued at roughly $6 billion and slated to deliver 3,050 MW of electricity, has been mired in contractual and legal disputes for decades. Allegations of political interference and questionable payments threaten to delay the project’s completion, potentially impacting Nigeria’s energy supply and investor confidence. The ICC tribunal’s findings also raise questions about the integrity of public‑private partnerships in the country’s infrastructure sector.
Key Details
- ICC Final Award Date
- 17 September 2026
- Disputed Payments
- $500,000 to Atiku’s wife; $1.74 million to Dasuki’s son
- Project Capacity
- 3,050 MW
- Project Value
- $6 billion
Context & Background
The Mambilla hydroelectric project was awarded to Sunrise Power in 2003 by Minister of Power and Steel Olu Agunloye, a contract later challenged for lacking proper approval. The dispute has involved multiple arbitration proceedings and investigations by the EFCC.
Original Reporting & Sources
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