A coalition known as Concerned Taraba Stakeholders for Fairness has urged a more balanced and historically informed assessment of the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. The group cautioned against recent criticism directed at former Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, following an online media report questioning his stewardship of the project.
Coalition Calls for Historical Context
While acknowledging the need for accountability, the stakeholders argued that isolating one administration does not reflect the project's complex history spanning several decades. In a statement issued in Taraba State and made available to journalists, the coalition, led by coordinator Musa Mohammed, noted that the Mambilla project dates back to the 1970s and was formally awarded in 2003 under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Mamman only assumed office in August 2019, long after the project had faced years of delays and restructuring. According to the group, one major obstacle has been prolonged international arbitration proceedings in Paris, which have significantly slowed implementation. “Assigning four decades of challenges to a minister who served for roughly two years is historically inaccurate,” the statement read.
Legal Proceedings and Financial Misconduct Allegations
The stakeholders also addressed ongoing legal proceedings involving Mamman and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where he faces allegations of financial misconduct linked to the Mambilla and Zungeru power projects, involving over N65 billion. They stressed that Mamman has pleaded not guilty and remains protected by the constitutional presumption of innocence.
They further referenced a January 2025 Federal High Court session in which an EFCC witness reportedly confirmed that statements attributed to Mamman were made in the presence of legal counsel and supported by video evidence. The trial is still ongoing.
Structural and Legal Complications
The coalition pointed to structural and legal complications predating Mamman’s tenure, citing court filings in a separate matter involving former minister Olu Agunloye. According to those filings, the Federal Executive Council had directed in 2003 that the contract memo for the project be withdrawn for renegotiation, a process that was never completed. Additionally, EFCC testimony has suggested that China Exim Bank was not formally part of the 2003 memorandum of understanding, further complicating financing arrangements.
“These issues—legal disputes, arbitration, and funding gaps—are central to understanding why the project has stalled,” the coalition said.
Removal from Office
On Mamman’s removal from office in September 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the stakeholders noted that no official statement linked his dismissal to corruption allegations or the Mambilla project. They cautioned against drawing conclusions not supported by documented evidence, describing such interpretations as speculative.
