Historic $2.3 Billion Mambilla Arbitration: Buhari And Obasanjo To Provide Key Testimonies In Paris Hearing

Former President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to testify on Monday in the $2.3 billion arbitration proceedings brought against Nigeria by Sunrise Power at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, France.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The dispute revolves around an alleged breach of contract by the federal government concerning the Mambilla hydropower project.

Contrary to circulating claims on social media that Buhari had already testified, credible sources have confirmed that the arbitration hearings are set to officially begin on Monday.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is also present in France to provide his testimony.

Nigeria’s former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Michael Aondoakaa, who previously filed a witness statement supporting Sunrise Power, reportedly left Paris abruptly, citing a summons from President Bola Tinubu.

However, a presidency source has denied that Tinubu summoned Aondoakaa.

Speculations have emerged suggesting that the sudden departure may be part of a broader strategy by Sunrise Power to allege witness intimidation by the Nigerian government, aiming to secure sympathy from the ICC tribunal members.

A presidency official refuted claims that Buhari was coerced by Tinubu into testifying, describing such claims as propaganda.

The official further stated that Buhari, in a letter to the current AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, in January 2024, denied authorizing Abubakar Malami, the former AGF, to enter into a $200 million settlement agreement with Sunrise Power.

Leaked Tribunal Filings Raise Concerns

Adding another layer to the case, an article attributed to one “Dr. Anthony Ibrahim” from the so-called “Truth and Justice Group, Camberwell Green, London, UK,” leaked confidential details of the arbitration filings.

The piece, which suggested that Nigeria was likely to lose the case, gained traction on social media.

However, an investigation by TheCable revealed no online presence for either “Dr. Anthony Ibrahim” or the alleged group, raising suspicions that the article was part of a calculated propaganda effort by parties with vested interests in the case.

Mambilla Project: Background of the Dispute

The arbitration case originates from the federal government’s alleged breach of a 2003 contract signed with Sunrise Power for the development of the Mambilla hydropower project.