Former President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria after testifying in an international arbitration case filed by Sunrise Power against the Nigerian government at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration in Paris, France.
Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s former Special Assistant on Digital Communications, confirmed his return on Friday, sharing a video on X (formerly Twitter) showing the former president disembarking from an aircraft.
“Former President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria after defending the country before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris in connection with the $2.3 billion arbitration case filed by Sunrise Power,“ Ahmad wrote.
The case revolves around a long-standing $6 billion contract dispute linked to the 2003 agreement for the construction of the 3,050-megawatt Mambilla Power Plant in Taraba State. Sunrise Power initiated arbitration in 2017, demanding $2.354 billion in damages for breach of contract and an additional $400 million settlement, citing Nigeria’s alleged failure to honor a 2020 resolution agreement.
The Nigerian presidency has denied claims that Buhari was compelled to testify, stating that he, along with former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other key witnesses, participated voluntarily. Ahmad also revealed that former ministers Babatunde Fashola and Suleiman Adamu testified in support of Nigeria’s defense.
Earlier, Obasanjo distanced himself from the controversial contract, stating he never authorized former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, to commit Nigeria to the $6 billion project. Buhari also reiterated in February 2024 that he never approved any settlement agreement with Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited regarding the project.
