Nigeria floors UK tech giant in epic ₦9.3bn legal battle

Nigeria has secured a final victory in a $6.2 million international arbitration case against European Dynamics UK Ltd, saving the country approximately ₦9.3 billion in potential damages.

Nigeria has emerged victorious in a complex international arbitration dispute involving the technology contractor European Dynamics UK Ltd, relieving the federal government of a potential financial liability of $6.2 million (approximately ₦9.3 billion). The dispute, which was resolved at the International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation in Abuja, centered on a stalled national electronic Government Procurement (eGP) project supported by the World Bank. In a statement released on Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) confirmed that the tribunal’s ruling is final and not subject to appeal, effectively dismissing all claims for alleged milestone payments and general damages.

The legal battle arose after the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) identified significant functional deficiencies and system performance errors during User Acceptance Tests (UAT). Despite pressure to reach an out-of-court settlement, the BPP leadership under Director-General Dr. Adebowale Adedokun elected to proceed with arbitration to ensure that public funds were only paid for demonstrable value. “The tribunal dismissed the contractor’s claims in their entirety, relieving Nigeria of potential financial exposure estimated at over 6.2 million dollars (approximately ₦9.3 billion) in claimed payments and damages,” the AGF’s office stated. The contractor had specifically sought $2.4 million for alleged milestones, $3 million in general damages, and $800,000 in settlement claims.

Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, hailed the outcome as a testament to the country’s growing capacity to defend its interests against international firms. He noted that the victory sends a clear message that the current administration will not tolerate predatory legal claims on the nation’s resources. Reflecting on the significance of the win, BPP DG Dr. Adedokun remarked, “This particular vendor has taken various African countries to court and won every single case. Nigeria is the first to defeat them.” The ruling is expected to set a new benchmark for software delivery standards and accountability in government technology projects moving forward.

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