Nigeria has scored a significant legal victory in an international arbitration dispute involving a United Kingdom technology contractor, European Dynamics UK Ltd, after a tribunal ruled in the country’s favour and dismissed all of the firm’s claims.
The dispute stemmed from a contract between the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and European Dynamics UK Ltd over a national e-Procurement project, a key digital government procurement system financed with support from the World Bank. The contractor had sought more than $6.2 million in claims including alleged milestone payments, general damages, and a settlement sum but the arbitration tribunal dismissed the claims entirely, effectively eliminating Nigeria’s potential financial exposure.
In a statement, the Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the Lateef Fagbemi, described the ruling as final and not subject to appeal, noting it prevented a substantial payout by the government.
The legal team representing Nigeria was led by Nigerian and international counsel, and officials said the decision reinforces strict contractual performance standards, particularly for government technology projects where delivery must meet rigorous operational and acceptance test criteria.
Attorney-General Fagbemi lauded the outcome as a testament to Nigeria’s strengthened legal capacity and institutional resolve, emphasising that successful arbitration outcomes like this send a clear message to the international business community about the country’s commitment to defending its interests in global commercial disputes.
Observers say the arbitration win not only spares Nigeria a potential loss of billions of naira but also highlights the importance of enforcing detailed project standards and protecting government resources in international agreements.
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