Ecuador court jails ex-president Lenin Moreno 5 years for $76m Sinohydro dam bribes

An Ecuadorian court sentenced former president Lenin Moreno (2017-2021) to five years in prison on May 11, 2026 for accepting $76 million in bribes from Chinese firm Sinohydro during construction of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam. The bribes represented about four percent of the project's total cost. Moreno, who served as vice-president under Rafael Correa from 2007-2013 before succeeding him, was convicted alongside 19 others including two former power plant managers. His wife and other relatives received nearly three-year sentences for complicity. Moreno maintains innocence, blaming the 'Correa regime' and announcing plans to appeal, while prosecutors had sought a 6.5-year term. The case highlights how grand corruption scandals ensnare former leaders even after they leave office, with parallels to Nigeria's ongoing efforts to hold officials accountable through agencies like EFCC. For Nigerians watching similar battles at home, this raises questions about whether current systems adequately prevent and punish grand infrastructure contract fraud—especially when illicit payments represent significant portions of national projects. Will Nigeria's anti-corruption framework evolve to catch and convict high-level officials before they escape justice, or will impunity continue for those who steal public funds through complex international deals?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/08/29/ecuador-ex-president-sentenced-to-5-years-for-corruption/