The Nigeria Governors’ Forum on Monday described plans by the Federal Government to deduct $418 million Paris Club from the Federation Account as unlawful and contrary to public policy and morality.
The position of the Forum was contained in a statement titled: ‘Re: Paris Club refund: FG counters states, insists deduction lawful’, issued by the NGF’s Head, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo.
The Forum which expressed opposition against the payment of the sums of $86,546,526.65 and N19,439,225,871.11 in 2016 and $100 million paid to the contractors in 2018, alleged that the money were wrongly paid to settle dubious and illegal claims, hence could go after the contractors with a view to recovering the funds.
While expressing concern over the failure of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation to protect the interest of the country, the Forum expressed suspicion over the special relationship between the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the consultants over and above Nigerian citizens, despite various injunctions and a restraining order issued last Friday not only unsettled preconceived plans and angered the unnamed ‘government officers’ referred to by the media aide.
The release read in part: “The attention of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum has been drawn to a statement issued by the media aide to the Attorney General of the Federation, Umar Gwandu, on Friday 5th November 2021 published in the Nation Newspaper of the same date in support of deductions of humongous state resources amounting to USD$418 million from the Federation Account.
“The payments are made in favour of private contractors and/or consultants for alleged work done in relation to the Paris Club Refunds to the States and Local Governments. Since the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) has not contradicted his aide, it is therefore deemed that the statement was issued with his authorization and consent.
“We need to state quickly that when we first read this press release, we had to double-check to be sure it was not authored by a lawyer representing either one or all the promissory notes recipients.
The decision by the HAGF to throw his weight behind these consultants who have been battling desperately to grab $418million from the accounts of states and local governments raises questions of propriety and the spirit of justice.
“The HAGF is supposed to be the chief arbiter in all matters concerning Nigerians, especially the poor masses of this country. It is incumbent upon him to, not just ensure that justice is done, but that justice is seen to have been done.
“The undue haste, with which the statement was issued even before the service on the AGF of the court processes and the order dated 5th November 2021 restraining the Federal Government, seems to suggest that there is a special relationship between the Office of the HAGF and the consultants over and above Nigerian citizens, whose interest the HAGF as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation is statutorily bound to always protect. The statement also suggests that the restraining order issued last Friday not only unsettled preconceived plans and angered the unnamed ‘government officers’ referred to by the media aide.
“The media aide to the HAGF justifies the deductions on the basis that they are made pursuant to four court judgments; two of which are consent judgments and/or that the NGF/States and LGAs consented, expressed no objection to the payments and had already paid part of the debts to the said contractors and consultants.
“The statement by the media aide to the HAGF however conveniently and deliberately failed to name the judgements. under reference and whether they are on appeal or challenge in any other way. He also failed to specify which of the four judgments authorized payments and in what proportion to each of the contractors.”
