THE Presidency has refuted reports claiming it had compelled former President Muhammadu Buhari or any Nigerian to testify in an arbitration in Paris.
On Saturday, January 18, a news platform (not ICIR) reported that former President Buhari had been called to testify before a Paris court over an arbitration proceeding over the 6 billion Mambilla power contract dispute. of dollars.
According to the report, Buhari “was prosecuted in court on Saturday for violating the terms of a power generation and distribution contract awarded to Nigeria’s Sunrise Power and Transmission Company through former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003. “
In response, Bayo Onanuga, media aide to the president, issued a statement denying the claim, but did not deny the substance of the case.
Onanuga described the procedure as totally confidential and under pressure not to be reported in the media as it remains personal until the foreign arbitrators make a decision.
“The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to fake news circulating on social media related to arbitration proceedings in Paris to which the Nigerian government is a party.
The personal procedure, which does not deserve to be disclosed in the media, is entirely confidential until the foreign arbitrators decide,” it reads in part.
The extra stresses that, respecting the confidentiality of the process, President Tinubu did not force anyone to testify for or against Nigeria.
Onabuga added that all Nigerians who defended the country did so voluntarily, out of patriotism and conviction, and that President Tinubu and the country were grateful to them.