Former President Muhammadu Buhari was made to appear before a French Arbitration Court Saturday concerning the cancellation of the Mambila power project.
The contract for the $6b project awarded by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006 was revoked by the administration of President Buhari.The project contract was awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria.
Mr. Leno Adesanya executive of Sunrise Power dragged the FG to the Arbitration Court for a breach of contract. Interestingly Mr. Adesanya had was accused of bribing former Minister of Power Olu Agunloye to secure the contract.
According to Peoples Gazette reports Buhari was grilled for hours on Saturday and would continue his testimony on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris in case number 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.
Buhari who handed over to President Bola Tinubu was compelled by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi make the appointment with the court in the suit.
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.
However, when Mr Adesanya protested the action against his company, Nigerian authorities sought to arrest him and charge him with bribery and economic sabotage. He denied the allegations and proceeded to arbitration.
Mr Adesanya was also forced to defend himself against EFCC’s decision to declare him wanted in Nigerian courts. He was charged alongside Olu Agunloye, a former power minister under Mr Obasanjo.
Mr Adesanya said he sought to ensure sustainable power in Nigeria when he proposed constructing the Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project through Sunrise Ltd as the special purpose vehicle to drive the project.
