Says its contrary to public policy and morality
The Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF), yesterday described plans by Federal Government to deduct the sum of $418 million Paris Club payments from the Federation Account as unlawful and contrary to public policy and morality.
The Forums position was contained in a statement, titled: Re: Paris Club refund: FG counters States, insists deduction lawful, issued by the NGFs Head, Media and Public Affairs, AbdulRazaque Bello-Barkindo.
The Forum, which expressed its opposition against the payment of total 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 monies 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 its suspicion over the special relationship between the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF), and the consultants over and above Nigerian citizens, despite various injunctions and a restraining order issued last Friday not only unsettled pre-conceived plans and angered the unnamed government officers referred to by the media aide.
The attention of the Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF), has been drawn to a statement issued by the media aide to the AGF, 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 Attorney-General of the Federation has not contradicted his aide, it is therefore deemed that the statement was issued with his authorisation and consent, the NGF stated, amongst others.
