Ned Nwoko Carpets Governors Forum For Deceiving Nigerians On Paris Club Refund
Nigeria-international lawyer, politician, philanthropist and Lead Consultant of Linas International, Mr. Ned Nwoko has accused State Governors of engaging in what he describes as “litany of lies”.
He made this known in Abuja on Saturday 20th August 2022 while reacting to the recent statement by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, regarding the Paris Club refund.
Speaking as the Lead Consultant for the recovery of over deductions from Paris and London clubs debt buy back funds, Ned Nwoko stated that his firm was being owed only 68million dollars not 418million dollars based on the allegations and claims trailing his company’s demand for the payment of fees of the Paris Club Fund from state governments and local government councils in the country.
Ned Nwoko noted that he was compelled to embark on the public engagement to debunk the litany of lies, spin and false narratives that had been dished out. He says the agenda of such falsity was targeted at abusing the minds of the undiscerning public by the Chairman of NGF, Fayemi, against the payment of consultancy fees.
He further stressed that the fees are legitimately earned and owed my firm for services rendered and which the states and local governments have fully been refunded. He emphasized that the outstanding fees owed with regards to last work done by his firm for the states is approximately 68million dollars.
He says “Our original claims calculated based on agreed terms was well in excess of 300million dollars, but we offered huge discount on the entitlement to accept the 68million dollars, stressing that the agreements and judgment being executed were reached before the advent of the present administration as against the false statement of NGF Chairman that no payments where paid before the current Administration.
Also speaking on the issues surrounding the refund, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami had few days ago described the governors’ action as akin to crying over spilled milk. Malami stressed that there was no basis for agitation by the NGF concerning deductions from the Paris Club refund paid to the consultants they hired.
Ned Nwoko therefore exonerated the Minister, which absolved the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of not engaging I any wrongdoing, stressing that the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.
Still speaking on the Paris club refund, Ned Nwoko, also alleged that the governors demanded and received $100 million to prosecute elections in some states and that on submission of the bill of $350 million as the consultancy fee, the state governors demanded to be paid 50 per cent of it before it could be honoured, with explanations thatr the money was needed to prosecute elections in Ekiti and Ondo states.
