Presidential Jet Seizure: Tinubu’s Lawyer Rotimi Oguneso Pocketed $170,000 as Member of 3-member Arbitration Panel That Unanimously Awarded $70 Million Against Nigeria

Tinubu’s Lawyer Rotimi Oguneso Earned $170,000 as Member of Arbitration Panel Awarding $70 Million Against Nigeria.

Rotimi Oguneso, a senior Nigerian lawyer who defended Bola Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election petitions tribunal, has come under scrutiny for earning $170,000 as a member of a three-man arbitration panel that awarded $70 million against Nigeria.

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The panel was convened to resolve a dispute stemming from a botched free trade zone deal between Ogun State and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd.

Oguneso, nominated by Nigeria to represent its interests on the panel, worked alongside Matthew Gearing, a UK legal practitioner chosen by Zhongshan, and David Neuberger, former president of the UK Supreme Court, who chaired the arbitration.

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The panel operated between early 2020 and March 26, 2021, when the final verdict was issued.

The dispute revolved around allegations by Zhongshan that Ogun State had violated a 2001 trade treaty between Nigeria and China by rescinding rights to a free trade zone in 2016.

The arbitration concluded with Nigeria being ordered to pay $55,675,000 plus $9,400,000 in interest, alongside £2,864,445 in costs.

Nigeria was further required to refund Zhongshan for the costs of the arbitration panel, which amounted to £549,655.

The panel’s decision, in which Oguneso concurred, has sparked concerns that the case against Nigeria was stronger than previously acknowledged by the country’s officials.

Despite efforts by Nigerian federal and Ogun State officials to downplay the arbitration’s impact, the judgement has already led to the seizure of Nigerian assets abroad, including guest houses in the UK and private jets in France and Canada.

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Nigeria has denied any wrongdoing and is reportedly working to resolve the matter with the Chinese firm. However, the arbitration’s outcome has raised significant questions about Nigeria’s handling of international trade agreements and its legal defenses in global arbitration disputes.

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Credit:  Peoples gazette