Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has appeared before a court in Paris as a witness in an arbitration case concerning a federal power contract dispute.
Peoples Gazette reports that Mr. Buhari was summoned on Saturday over allegations of breaching the terms of a power generation and distribution contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006. The $6 billion project has been stalled for over 20 years, with its main proponent, Leno Adesanya, facing allegations of corruption, including claims of bribing a former minister to secure the contract.
Sources revealed that Mr. Buhari underwent hours of questioning on Saturday and is scheduled to continue his testimony on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris, under case number 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.
A senior government official disclosed that Mr. Buhari initially resisted testifying in the matter. However, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi visited him at his residence in Daura last week to persuade him to appear before the court.
“The AGF made it clear to the president that he must be in Paris,” the official said under anonymity to discuss the situation.
Bola Tinubu approved the decision to summon his predecessor before the foreign arbitration panel, the source disclosed. It is highly unusual for a Nigerian president to appear in court over decisions made while in office, as former executive aides typically handle inquiries related to the president’s actions during their tenure. Notably, in 2017, former President Goodluck Jonathan ignored a subpoena to testify in a criminal trial in Abuja.
Attempts to get comments from Mr. Fagbemi and two presidential spokespersons about the administration’s decision were unsuccessful, as they did not respond to inquiries. Additionally, efforts to reach a spokesperson for Mr. Buhari on Saturday evening were unsuccessful.
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The Buhari administration had been accused of withholding approximately $200 million in payments that had been previously approved for the project, which was to be executed in partnership with a Chinese consortium.
Court documents revealed that former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami formally communicated the government’s decision to terminate the agreement to Mr. Adesanya and Mambilla Power on April 22, 2020.
When Mr. Adesanya protested the government’s actions against his company, Nigerian authorities attempted to arrest him and charge him with bribery and economic sabotage. He denied the allegations and opted to pursue arbitration.
Mr. Adesanya also had to defend himself in Nigerian courts after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared him wanted. He was charged alongside Olu Agunloye, a former power minister during the Obasanjo administration.
In his defense, Mr. Adesanya stated that his goal was to ensure sustainable power in Nigeria. He explained that he proposed the construction of the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project, with Sunrise Ltd serving as the special purpose vehicle to drive the initiative.
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