Presidency: Tinubu didn’t drag anyone to France over Mambilla contract dispute

The Presidency says President Bola Tinubu did not force anyone to testify in the arbitration proceeding, which the Federal Government is a party, in Paris, the capital of France.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made this known in a statement on Saturday night.

Onanuga said the private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, was entirely confidential.

The presidential spokesman stated: “While respecting the confidentiality of the proceedings, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or to refrain from testifying against Nigeria.

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“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.”

Reports had on Saturday, January 18, 2025, emerged that former President Muhammadu Buhari was compelled to appear before a court in Paris to testify in the $6bn Mambilla power contract dispute.

Sunrise Power is currently in arbitration with Nigeria at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government.

Buhari had, in February 2024, said he never authorised any settlement agreement with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited on the Mambilla hydroelectric power project.

The Star