The presidency on Saturday confirmed that former President Muhammadu Buhari appeared before a court in Paris over the $6 billion Mambilla power project fraud.
In response to an online report, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga denied that Mr Tinubu compelled his predecessor to appear before the Paris court but confirmed that the arbitration panel grilled Mr Buhari.
“While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or to refrain from testifying against Nigeria,” Mr Onanuga said in a statement on Saturday shortly after The Gazette story went viral online.
Mr Onanuga also admitted that The Gazette made public Mr Buhari’s appearance before Paris court which was supposed to be confidential.
“The private proceeding, which should not have been reported in the media, is entirely confidential until the international arbitrators decide,” Mr Onanuga said.
Contrary to the age-long tradition when past Nigerian presidents either ignored or shunned court invitations, Mr Buhari was grilled for hours at the foreign arbitration court.
In the exclusive story, The Gazette cited sources familiar with the matter said, “President Bola Tinubu approved the decision to haul his predecessor before the foreign arbitration panel.’’
A top administration official said Mr Buhari was reluctant to give testimony on the matter. “Still, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, 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 on condition of anonymity.
