Former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari are testifying before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France, in connection with the $2.3 billion arbitration proceedings filed against Nigeria by Sunrise Power over an alleged breach of contract by the federal government.
Sources confirmed to reporters yesterday that both leaders are in Paris in respect of the matter.
A presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, had Saturday night denied a report that the Presidency forced some eminent Nigerians to testify in the arbitration proceeding taking place in Paris.
Onanuga, who did not deny the existence of the case, had said: “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.”
Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, told news correspondents on the telephone yesterday that his principal is currently in France.
He, however, said he was not privy to what took the former leader there.
“I can confirm to you that the former president is right now in France and that is the only thing I know,” he said in a telephone conversation yesterday.
Obasanjo had, in an interview with TheCable in 2023, said: “If a commission of inquiry is set up today to investigate the matter, I am ready to testify.”
Efforts to reach Malam Garba Shehu, the spokesperson to former President Buhari were not successful as his lines could not be reached through calls and texts, including WhatsApp messages.
However, other sources confirmed that Buhari travelled out of Nigeria, but could not say whether he is currently in France or another country.
