The Nigerian presidency has reacted to reports alleging that former President Muhammadu Buhari was summoned to a Paris court. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released on Saturday night while confirming a “private proceeding”, clarified that President Bola Tinubu did not force any eminent Nigerian to testify for or against the country....Read Full Article >>➤
According to earlier reports, Buhari was said to have testified in an arbitration proceeding over a federal power contract dispute. The reports claimed that Buhari was hauled before the court on Saturday for allegedly 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.
This $6 billion project has been ongoing for over 20 years, with its main actor, Leno Adesanya, facing anti-graft investigations, including allegations of bribing a former minister to secure the contract.
Buhari was reportedly grilled for hours on Saturday and was expected to continue his testimony on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris.
The reports further alleged that a top administration official revealed that Buhari was initially reluctant to give testimony but was compelled to appear after Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi visited him at his residence in Daura.
However, Onanuga stated that the arbitration proceeding is confidential and that all eminent Nigerians involved in Nigeria’s defense are participating willingly.
The statement said, “The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to some fake news on social media about an arbitration proceeding in Paris to which the Nigerian Government is a party.
“The private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, is entirely confidential until the international arbitrators decide.
“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.”…Read Full Article
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