$418m refund: Govs accuse AGF of working for consultants

The Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has accused the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), of abdicating his duty of defending public and now sides with consultants against the states in the $418 million Paris Club Refund debacle.

NGF, in a statement by its director media and public affairs, Abdurazaque Bello-Barkindo, said that the AGF has proven the allegation through releasing of multiple press statements backing the consultants.

The governors further accused the AGF of coordinating defence for the consultants against the states and local government areas.

The statement said: “Perhaps, confirming our fears and that of the public that the AGF has abdicated his role as public defender and trustee and become the strongest advocate to the consultants is now evident in Ned Nwoko’s press statement wherein he praised the role played by the AGF describing it as inevitable.

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“Ned cannot say that the consultants have no official platform to canvass their case, when the AGF has, in spite of public protestation, provided the strongest and most virulent platform to campaign for the expeditious payment of the sums claimed. The AGF has addressed and issued over half a dozen press statements justifying why the consultants should be immediately paid. Not even NED’S solicitors could have done any better.”

The governors said that crack in the consultants’ folds might have triggered Nwoko to address the press after AGF had defended their interest, questioning further that why he singled out his claim of $68 million against the consultants’ collective claim of $418.8.

The NGF added: “As it is common with all unholy alliances, it does appear that the romance between the consultants and their determination to fight together under the AGF’s tacit coordination to pull out of the states the sum of $418,953,690.59 may have suffered a crack. This must have led Ned to address the press alone and single out his unmerited claim of $68 million as justifiable. This is also coming just on the heel of a similar press briefing by the AGF, a few days ago during which he stoutly defended all the consultants and berated the States for opposing or delaying the prompt payment of the sum claimed.

“It was thought that the AGF had done a good job of defense for all of them; but Ned’s decision to go solo to make his own case without reference to others suggest that the union of consultants is gradually falling apart. What however NED did not tell the public is: If all the local governments engaged him directly as claimed and if he acted for the states through his lawyers and the NGF requested that he extends the services to all the States as also claimed, what different service did TED ISEGHOHI-EDWARDS, his collaborator and conspirator (indicted by the EFCC) render for which he is being paid the whooping sum of $159,000,000 also from the Paris Club refund?”

The NGF further gave breakdown of claims by the consultants and the earlier litigation by Nwoko.

“While Mr. Ned Nwoko strenuously tried to single out and justify his own bogus claim of $68 million; the total amount which all the consultants working in concert, collectively seek and claim from the States and Local Governments, albeit unlawfully is USD$418,953,690.59 broken down as follows: I. NED MUNIR NWOKO ($68,658,192.83); II. DR. TED ISIGHOHI EDWARDS ($159,000,000); iii. PANIC ALERT SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD ($47,831,920); IV. RIOK NIG. Ltd (USD142,028,941.95); V. PRINCE ORJI ORIZU (USD1,219,440.45) and VI. BARRISTER OLAITAN BELLO (USD215,195.36)

TOTAL – USD$418,953,690.59

“It is instructive to note that all the claims by the consultants are rooted in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13 BETWEEN: LINAS INTERNATIONAL LTD & 35 ORS VS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & 3

ORS in which NED NWOKO instituted, and was awarded a bogus 20% of the sum of $3,188,078,505.96 from the States and Local Governments Paris Club refunds.

“They contended that since the case is before the court, it is important to allow the court to pass judgement without Nwoko trying to have his way alone.

“Let the consultants therefore have their day in court with the NGF and upon victory; they can seek to be paid. It is absurd to pursue payment in the face of all pending cases. While the consultants are strangely emboldened by those who should ordinarily oppose the payment and protect public trust; the law is not silent. It upholds the truth at all times no matter how long it takes.”

The Star