The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has embarked on investigation into $6 billion Mambilla Power Project .
The Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu made this known while appearing before Senate Committee on Power to defend 2023 budget .when the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Gabriel Suswan raised concern over the situation of Mambilla Power Project.
The Minister said the Ministry has met with stakeholders and all issues of concern is currently been resolved adding that the issue of litigation on the Mambilla power project is hampering the project .
“Regarding Mambilla, we have met with stakeholders and we are resolving the situation. It has something to do with litigation, there is nothing going on as regarding moving to site.
” EFCC has stepped into the matter and we have given them information about it, we have given them history of Power Project, our lawyers have interfaced with the anti-graft agency, unless we are able to pull out of litigation, we can’t do anything.
“I don’t think the investor will bring their money where there is encumbrance.”
Speaking on the project, Senator Susuwan said that the project is a mirage as far as National is concerned because money has been budgeted year in year out and there is nothing on ground .
According to him, to us in National Assembly, the Mambilla Power Project is mirage , there is nothing to show for it despite the money that has been provided year in , year out.
” It is clear that the Mambilla power project will not be able to start before the end of this administration.”
Federal Government awarded a $6 billion Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract to Sunrise Power and Transmission Co. Limited and its Chinese consortium partners on May 22, 2003.
Sunrise consortium had secured $5.5 billion in Chinese Eximbank loans in 2005, while the Nigerian government, on May 28, 2007, signed a $1.46 billion civil works contract with the Chinese firm, Messrs China Gezhouba Group Corporation/China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGGC/ CGC), in clear violation of Sunrise’s BOT contract.