EXCLUSIVE: Bola Tinubu forces ex-President Buhari to take witness stand in Paris court over $6 billion Mambilla power contract fraud
After testifying as a witness in an arbitration hearing pertaining to a federal power contract dispute, former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was brought before a court in Paris.
According to information obtained Mr. Buhari was taken to court on Saturday for violating the conditions of a power generating and distribution contract that former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria in 2003.
Leno Adesanya, the $6 billion project's principal anchor, has been the subject of anti-graft investigations for more than 20 years. There have been allegations that he bribed a former minister to obtain the contract.
According to information obtained Mr. Buhari was taken to court on Saturday for violating the conditions of a power generating and distribution contract that former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria in 2003.
Leno Adesanya, the $6 billion project's principal anchor, has been the subject of anti-graft investigations for more than 20 years. There have been allegations that he bribed a former minister to obtain the contract.
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In case number 26260/SPN/AB/CPB, Mr. Buhari was interrogated for hours on Saturday and would continue to testify on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris.
According to a senior administration source, Mr. Buhari was hesitant to testify about the issue. Nevertheless, this week, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi paid him a visit at his Daura home to force his presence.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "The president was informed by the AGF that he needed to be in Paris."
According to a senior administration source, Mr. Buhari was hesitant to testify about the issue. Nevertheless, this week, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi paid him a visit at his Daura home to force his presence.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "The president was informed by the AGF that he needed to be in Paris."
According to the source, President Bola Tinubu gave his approval to the move to bring his predecessor before the foreign arbitration tribunal. Since former executive assistants are typically held accountable for any powers used on the president's behalf throughout their terms, it is uncommon for a Nigerian president to appear in court on actions taken while in office. In 2017, former President Goodluck Jonathan dodged a Nigerian court order to appear in a criminal trial in Abuja.
A request for comments regarding the administration's decision was not immediately answered by Mr. Fagbemi or two presidential spokespersons. On Saturday night, it was impossible to get in touch with Mr. Buhari's spokesperson.
A request for comments regarding the administration's decision was not immediately answered by Mr. Fagbemi or two presidential spokespersons. On Saturday night, it was impossible to get in touch with Mr. Buhari's spokesperson.
Mr Buhari's government was accused of withholding almost $200 million in previously agreed payments for the project, which was to be launched in partnership with a Chinese firm.
According to court filings, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami informed Mr. Adesanya and Mambilla Power of the decision to terminate the agreement on April 22, 2020.
According to court filings, former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami informed Mr. Adesanya and Mambilla Power of the decision to terminate the agreement on April 22, 2020.
However, when Mr Adesanya challenged the measures taken against his company, Nigerian authorities attempted to arrest him and accuse him with bribery and economic sabotage. He refuted the claims and went to arbitration.
Mr. Adesanya was also required to defend himself against the EFCC's decision to proclaim him sought in Nigerian courts. He was charged alongside Olu Agunloye, a former electricity minister under Mr. Obasanjo.
Mr Adesanya stated that he proposed building the Mambilla Hydroelectric electricity Project through Sunrise Ltd, the project's special purpose vehicle, in order to assure Nigeria's long-term electricity supply.
Mr. Adesanya was also required to defend himself against the EFCC's decision to proclaim him sought in Nigerian courts. He was charged alongside Olu Agunloye, a former electricity minister under Mr. Obasanjo.
Mr Adesanya stated that he proposed building the Mambilla Hydroelectric electricity Project through Sunrise Ltd, the project's special purpose vehicle, in order to assure Nigeria's long-term electricity supply.
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