Mambilla Project Legal Drama: Buhari Set to Testify as Aondoakaa Backs Out
Former President Muhammadu Buhari is set to testify on Monday in a high-stakes $2.3 billion arbitration case filed against Nigeria by Sunrise Power. The proceedings, which are set to take place at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, France, center around allegations of breach of contract regarding the long-running Mambilla Hydropower project.
Recent social media reports, which have since been refuted by the Nigerian presidency, suggested that Buhari had already testified in the matter. However, sources confirmed to TheCable that the arbitration hearings are only set to begin on Monday. Alongside Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo is also in France to provide testimony related to the dispute.
In a dramatic twist, former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Michael Aondoakaa, who had earlier filed a witness statement in support of Sunrise Power, left Paris abruptly. Reports suggest Aondoakaa returned to Nigeria after allegedly being summoned by President Bola Tinubu. Some speculated that this could be part of a strategy by Sunrise’s legal team to accuse the Nigerian government of witness intimidation. A source close to the presidency, however, denied these claims, stating that Aondoakaa was not summoned by the current administration.
Adding fuel to the fire, an anonymous article by “Dr. Anthony Ibrahim” from the “Truth and Justice Group” in London leaked confidential details of the tribunal’s filings, suggesting that Nigeria was poised to lose the case. A search by TheCable revealed no online presence for Ibrahim or the purported group, raising suspicions that the article was part of a targeted propaganda effort to influence the arbitration process.
Also Read: Tinubu’s Office Denies Allegations of Coercion in Mambilla Power Dispute
The Mambilla Hydropower saga dates back to 2003, when Nigeria signed an agreement with Sunrise Power to construct a $6 billion, 3,050-megawatt plant in Taraba State. Sunrise Power claims the Nigerian government breached this contract, prompting them to seek $2.354 billion in damages. In addition, the company is demanding $400 million, alleging that the Nigerian government failed to honor a 2020 settlement agreement meant to end the dispute.
Obasanjo, speaking to TheCable in 2023, questioned the authority of his former Minister of Power, Olu Agunloye, to award such a large contract without presidential approval. Obasanjo stated that no minister had the power to approve contracts exceeding N25 million without express consent from the president. He emphasized that he had never approved the Mambilla deal and had even directed Agunloye to shelve the proposal in 2003.
Buhari, for his part, has denied endorsing the settlement agreement with Sunrise Power, despite it being negotiated by his ministers. In a letter to the AGF in January 2024, Buhari clarified that while his ministers engaged with Sunrise to resolve the project’s issues, he had never authorized the $200 million settlement. He also expressed his concerns about such out-of-court settlements, comparing them to Nigeria’s previous legal battles, including the infamous P&ID case.
Aondoakaa, who initially denied reports that he was set to testify against Nigeria, later clarified that his witness statement was a response to allegations against him in the country’s defense filings. However, questions have arisen about how Aondoakaa accessed confidential details of Nigeria’s legal arguments, as arbitration proceedings are typically sealed. Despite his claims, it has been confirmed that Aondoakaa is listed as a witness for Sunrise Power, and his testimony could have a major impact on the case.
