Presidency: Tinubu didn’t force anyone to testify in Mambilla arbitration in Paris

The presidency says President Bola Tinubu did not force anyone to testify in the arbitration proceeding taking place in Paris.

Reports on Saturday suggested that former President Muhammadu Buhari was compelled to appear before a court in Paris to testify in the $6bn Mambilla power contract dispute.

Sunrise Power is currently in arbitration with Nigeria at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France, over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government.

In February 2024, Buhari said he never authorised any settlement agreement with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited on the Mambilla hydroelectric power project.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo had also previously denied authorising Olu Agunloye, former minister of power and steel, to commit Nigeria to the $6 billion “build, operate and transfer” contract with Sunrise Power in 2003.

PRESIDENCY: ALL NIGERIANS INVOLVED DOING SO WILLINGLY

In a statement issued late on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said no one was forced to testify in the matter — but said the proceeding is meant to be confidential.

Onanuga said “all the eminent Nigerians involved in Nigeria’s defence are doing so willingly and out of sheer patriotism and conviction”.

“The private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, is entirely confidential until the international arbitrators decide,” the statement reads.

“While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or to refrain from testifying 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.”