“Buhari Returns to Nigeria After Key Testimony in $2.3B Power Dispute”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Nigeria after providing testimony in a high-profile arbitration case at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Court of Arbitration in Paris. The case centers around a $2.3 billion dispute between Nigeria and Sunrise Power, which has accused the Nigerian government of breaching a contract related to the construction of the 3,050MW Mambilla power plant in Taraba State.

A video shared by Bashir Ahmad, Buhari’s former Special Assistant on Digital Communications, captured the former president stepping off an aircraft as he returned to the country.

The dispute, which has been ongoing since 2017, traces its roots back to a 2003 contract for the $6 billion Mambilla power project, initially envisioned under a build, operate, and transfer arrangement. Sunrise Power claims the Nigerian government failed to honor a settlement agreement reached in 2020, sparking the legal battle.

Buhari’s testimony is seen as a pivotal element in Nigeria’s defense. According to the presidency, other witnesses, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, have voluntarily provided their testimony in the case. Both Buhari and Obasanjo have denied any involvement in authorizing agreements or settlements tied to the Mambilla project.

As the dispute unfolds, the fate of the ambitious power plant project and its multi-billion-dollar implications hang in the balance.