The Presidency has debunked reports that it “forced” former Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, to testify in an arbitration proceeding in Paris.

 

It however did not deny that such a proceeding was taking place.

 

In a statement, the Presidency claimed that everyone testifying in Nigeria’s defence “are doing so willingly.”

 

The statement signed by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, was reacting to news that had gone viral on social media.

 

It was reported that Buhari had been summoned before the court in Paris in an arbitration proceeding over the $6bn Mambilla power contract dispute.

 

The report claimed that the former president had been “hauled before the court on Saturday for breaching the terms of a power generation and distribution contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.”

 

It also alleged that Buhari was “grilled for hours on Saturday and would continue his testimony on Sunday before the International Chamber of Commerce Court of Arbitration in Paris in case number 26260/SPN/AB/CPB.”

 

However, the Presidency has come out to describe the reports as “fake news.”

 

According to Onanuga, “While respecting the confidentiality of the proceeding, we wish to state categorically that President Bola Tinubu has not forced anyone to testify for or against Nigeria.

 

“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.”