By Emmanuel Nduka
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has advised businessman and philanthropist, Ned Nwoko, who is one of the alleged consultants on the Paris Club refund, to reserve all of his recent outburst against its Chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and channel them towards litigation.
While speaking with journalists over the weekend in Abuja, Nwoko alleged that the consultancy fee owed by the states and local governments was $68 million and not $418 million.
“The outstanding fees owed my firm with regards to last work done for the states is approximately $68 million and not $418 million as maliciously sought to be conveyed by Fayemi and co,” he said, alleging that the NGF told lies.
Reacting to this in a statement signed by Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, Director, Media and Public Affairs, NGF Secretariat, the governors stated that Nwoko in his statement, attempted to blur and obfuscate the real facts and legal issues in controversy by dishing out blatant lies and half-truths about the whole transactions in the Paris Club refund deal.
The NGF in the statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, declared that “the salient facts on the fraud associated with the Paris Club refunds can never be changed by a thousand press statements by the AGF or any of the consultants.”
“While Ned has vowed to fully enforce the judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/130/2013, may we remind him that the law does not permit the enforcement of a judgment that is on appeal. Let him reserve all his vituperations against the NGF chairman and canvass them on appeal as the law may permit him.
“No professional advocacy or media campaign to hoodwink the public can change the law.
“We are not unmindful of the ridiculous claim by one of consultants that it was his media campaign that swayed a Federal High Court judgment in favour of the NGF.
“Interestingly, the public which is the greatest victim in the mismanagement of scarce public resources has since been well informed and is on red alert to avert and stop what is apparently an attempt by some ravenous rent seekers masquerading as consultants to further exacerbate the economic woes of citizens under the prevailing dire economic situation.
“The use of libelous language on the person of the chairman of NGF, who has refused to be compromised and has firmly stood his ground on the unconstitutional and unlawful nature of the consultants’ claims, is not helpful to their case either.
“NGF is an apolitical organisation that operates under defined principles targeted at good governance. Its role in the whole of this Paris Club refund debacle to consultants is to ensure that Nigeria citizens are not unlawfully deprived of resources meant for their development.
“NGF will not therefore waste its valuable time to defend unsubstantiated allegations against individuals or persons who are in a position to defend themselves.
“If Ned is sure of his facts, he is at liberty to approach the necessary authorities to bring to justice on any person or persons and all conspirators (including himself) who were allegedly involved in misappropriating public resources for campaign financing.
“The NGF hereby states unequivocally that it has not at any time been involved in or been in receipt of USD$100 million or any other funds from Ned Nwoko to finance elections in any state.
“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.
“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 NGF statement read.
