FG Denies Forcing Buhari To Testify In Paris Arbitration Case

The Presidency has dismissed reports suggesting that former President Muhammadu Buhari was “forced” to testify in an arbitration proceeding in Paris related to the billion Mambilla power contract dispute.

In a statement issued by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the government refuted claims circulating on social media that Buhari had been compelled to appear before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris.

While the Presidency did not deny the existence of the arbitration proceedings, it clarified that all individuals testifying on Nigeria’s behalf were doing so voluntarily.

“While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or against Nigeria. All the eminent Nigerians involved in Nigeria’s defence are doing so willingly and out of sheer patriotism and conviction. President Tinubu and the entire country are grateful to them,” Onanuga said in the statement.

The social media reports had alleged that Buhari was summoned to testify over accusations 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 2003. The reports also claimed that Buhari was interrogated for hours on Saturday and would continue his testimony on Sunday as part of the case numbered 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.

The Presidency dismissed these allegations as “fake news” and emphasized that the ongoing legal defence was being handled with the utmost professionalism and national interest.

The Mambilla power project dispute remains one of Nigeria’s most significant legal battles, with billions of dollars at stake in potential damages.