In a legal tangle unfolding in London, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi is fighting to maintain his immunity, while a shipbuilding giant, Privinvest, faces a $3.1-billion lawsuit from Mozambique. The lawsuit accuses Privinvest of greasing palms among officials and Credit Suisse bankers.
London's High Court is yet to deliver its verdict after a trial last year. Mozambique reached a settlement with UBS, the new owner of Credit Suisse, on the eve of the trial in October.
Before last year's trial commenced, the High Court ruled that Nyusi hadn't been properly served with Privinvest's lawsuit and was entitled to immunity as a head of state. Now, Privinvest is seeking to drag Nyusi into the legal fray, alleging he received $11 million in illicit campaign funds from the company, a claim Nyusi disputes.
Privinvest's lawyers argued in the Court of Appeal that Nyusi was served correctly when court papers were delivered to his presidential palace in 2021. They claim Nyusi's delay in claiming immunity until 2023 renders his defense void.
Nyusi's legal team countered, asserting that Privinvest is attempting to strip Nyusi's immunity based on the pretext of delayed response to documents allegedly left at a security checkpoint at the presidential palace.
The accusations against Nyusi stem from Mozambique's extensive lawsuit initially targeting Credit Suisse, Privinvest, and others over the tuna bonds scandal. Mozambique alleges that bribes were exchanged to secure favorable terms for projects, including one aimed at exploiting the nation's tuna-rich coastal waters.