Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged before a court in Paris, France, where he took the witness stand in an arbitration proceeding over a federal power contract dispute.

It wad learnt that Buhari was hauled before the court yesterday for breaching the terms of a power generation and distribution contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria, (TCN) by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006.
The $6 billion project has dragged on for over 20 years, and its main anchor, Leno Adesanya, has been a target of anti-graft investigations, including claims that he bribed a former minister at the time to secure the contract.
According to reports, the former President was grilled for hours yesterday, and would continue his testimony today, Sunday, before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris, France, in case number: 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.
According to the report, a top administration official revealed that Buhari was reluctant to give testimony on the matter. Still, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, visited him at his residence in Daura last week to compel his appearance.
“The AGF made it clear to the president that he must be in Paris”, the official said, under anonymity to discuss the situation. President Bola Tinubu approved the decision to haul his predecessor before the foreign arbitration panel, the source added.
It’s rare for a Nigerian president to appear in a court case over actions he took while in office, as former Executive aides are usually saddled with answering for all powers exercised on behalf of the President during their tenures. Recall that in 2017, former President Goodluck Jonathan shunned a Nigerian court subpoena to appear in a criminal trial in Abuja.
Fagbemi and two presidential spokespersons did not immediately respond to a request for comments about the administration’s decision. A spokesman for Buhari could not be reached as of yesterday evening.
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.