Buhari’s testimony in Mambilla power project dispute, height of patriotism – Presidency 

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Buhari’s testimony in Mambilla power project dispute, height of patriotism – Presidency 
The Presidency has said that former President Muhammadu Buhari and other notable Nigerians who appear before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris, did so out of patriotism.
“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,” Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement.
The Presidency was reacting to report that President Bola Tinubu forced Buhari to testify in the arbitration proceeding over the federal government’s termination of the Mambilla power project.

Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria was awarded the $6 billion contract by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, but by 2020, the company had not executed the contract, and it was terminated by the Buhari administration.

However, when the administration awarded the Mambilla power project contract to another company, Sunrise rushed to court and secured an order to stop the power project.

The $6 billion project has dragged on for over 20 years, and its main anchor, Leno Adesanya, has been a target of anti-graft investigations, including bribing a former minister of power.

Buhari who testified for Nigeria on Saturday is expected to continue with the testimony today.

 

 

 

An online publication, The Gazette had reported that Buhari was forced to go to Paris to testify by President Bola Tinubu, quoting a top administration official.

The Attorney-General of the country,  Lateef Fagbemi had visited Buhari in Daura last week to compel his appearance.

“The AGF made it clear to the president that he must be in Paris,” the official said. under anonymity to discuss the situation.

President Tinubu approved the decision to haul his predecessor before the foreign arbitration panel, the source added. It’s rare for a Nigerian president to appear in a court case over actions he took while in office, as former executive aides are usually saddled with answering for all powers exercised on behalf of the president during their tenures.

In 2017, former President Goodluck Jonathan shunned a Nigerian court subpoena to appear in a criminal trial in Abuja.

Buhari’s government was accused of withholding about $200 million in payments previously approved for the project, which was to be launched in conjunction with a Chinese consortium.

Court filings showed former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami communicated the decision to truncate the agreement to Mr Adesanya and Mambilla Power on April 22, 2020.

Lateef Fagbemi
Lateef Fagbemi [Credit: Ilorin.Info]

Adesanya has been declared wanted by the EFCC. He was charged alongside Olu Agunloye, a former power minister under Obasanjo over the multi billion dollar Mambilla power project.

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