The image of two former Nigerian Presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari, in a Paris courtroom, answering questions in a $6 billion arbitration case, is nothing short of a disgraceful and infuriating indictment of their leadership and legacy. Obasanjo and Buhari, once revered as custodians of Nigeria’s sovereignty, now stand before an international court as if they were common criminals, compelled to defend their actions – or inactions – in the mismanagement of the Mambilla hydroelectric power project. This is not just a personal humiliation for these former leaders; it is a monumental stain on Nigeria’s global reputation. How did we arrive at a point where our leaders, who wielded unchecked power at home, must now account for their decisions in a foreign land? This humiliating spectacle is a national embarrassment that underscores the catastrophic failure of governance, accountability, and respect for the rule of law in Nigeria.
Obasanjo and Buhari, alongside former Power, Works, and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola are in Paris, testifying in the arbitration case involving the $6 billion Mambilla hydroelectric power project.
Mambilla symbolizes the endemic corruption, incompetence, and disregard for legal commitments that have plagued Nigeria’s infrastructure development. Accusations of fraudulent contract awards, bribery, and arbitrary cancellation of agreements have turned what should have been a transformative project into a $6 billion liability. Nigeria is accused of breaching the terms of the contract awarded to Sunrise Power and Transmission Ltd by Obasanjo in 2003 to construct a 3,960-megawatt hydroelectric power station on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis. Instead of addressing the contractual obligations head-on, Buhari opted for a knee-jerk cancellation of the agreement in 2020. This unilateral action set off a chain of legal battles that now sees Nigeria defending itself against massive financial claims.
The presence of these former presidents in a Paris courtroom is a stark reminder of their failure to uphold the basic tenets of governance. Obasanjo, under whose administration the contract was awarded, and Buhari, who arbitrarily canceled the contract without foresight or legal due diligence, are the architects of this fiasco. Their decisions, or lack thereof, have plunged Nigeria into an international dispute, with the possibility of paying billions in damages. This sordid affair also lays bare the reckless abandonment of due process and contractual obligations during their respective tenures. The $6 billion liability is not merely the result of bureaucratic missteps; it is a direct consequence of impunity, poor governance, and the contemptuous disregard for the principles of transparency and accountability. These men, who disregarded domestic courts and flouted the rule of law within Nigeria, now find themselves subject to a foreign judiciary, stripped of the immunity and arrogance that shielded them while in office.
What makes this situation even more infuriating is their apparent willingness to submit to the authority of a foreign court while habitually snubbing Nigerian courts during their time in office. Nigerians have watched with dismay as Obasanjo and Buhari – two former army generals – treated domestic courts with disdain. From ignoring court orders on human rights cases to trampling on judicial processes in politically motivated prosecutions, a pattern of executive impunity has been firmly established. Yet, when the stakes are high in international arbitration or foreign legal proceedings, these same men, who ignored domestic court orders, detained citizens unlawfully, and undermined the judiciary at home, now sheepishly answer questions in a Paris courtroom to salvage their legacies. It is a hypocritical display of selective obedience to the rule of law that reeks of cowardice and self-interest. This hypocrisy is not just a betrayal of their oaths of office; it is an insult to the Nigerian judiciary and an affront to the rule of law.
This debacle has reduced Nigeria, the self-proclaimed giant of Africa to a subject of international ridicule. It is deeply insulting that the two ex-presidents were summoned like errant schoolboys to explain their actions, not in Abuja or Lagos, but in Paris. What message does this send to the world about the integrity of our leaders and the competence of our institutions? Ironically, Buhari, who routinely ignored Nigerian court orders during his tenure, now finds himself relying on the same legal principles he disregarded to defend the country in an international court. Buhari’s tenure was riddled with instances of court orders being flagrantly ignored. Activists, journalists, and political opponents languished in detention despite court rulings ordering their release. The same trend can be traced to Obasanjo’s administration, notorious for its strong-arm tactics and selective adherence to the rule of law. The actions of Obasanjo, Buhari, and others reveal a disturbing trend: an entrenched belief that the rule of law applies selectively, depending on one’s audience. This double standard erodes trust in governance and diminishes Nigeria’s standing on the global stage. Leaders who defy court orders domestically but rush to comply with foreign legal summons do not act out of patriotism or conviction; they act out of fear of international repercussions.
The current administration of President Bola Tinubu must break this cycle of hypocrisy. While Tinubu has distanced himself from the legal defense in Paris, his claim that Obasanjo and Buhari are in Paris defending Nigeria’s interest because of patriotism rings hollow unless accompanied by a commitment to uphold due process and respect for the judiciary at home. Nigerians deserve leaders who champion justice, not opportunists who cherry-pick when to respect the law. It is time to hold past and present leaders accountable for their actions, both within and outside Nigeria. Anything less is a betrayal of the nation’s democratic principles and the trust of its citizens.
This shameful episode must serve as a wake-up call for Nigerians. We must demand better from those who seek to lead us. Leaders must be held accountable for their actions, not just during their tenure but long after they leave office. We must strengthen our institutions to ensure that no leader, no matter how powerful, can act with impunity or disregard the law without consequence. The spectacle of former presidents answering for their misdeeds in a foreign court is a humiliation that Nigeria must never endure again. Let this be a lesson to current and future leaders: history will judge you, and so will the world. The era of impunity must end.
