File picture of Prince Arthur Eze with President Buhari at the Villa | Photo Credit: Odogu blog
An Igbo business tycoon and oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow agitations for the division of Nigeria to distract him from the development strides he has embarked on.
Arthur Eze, during a private visit to the President yesterday night, September 14, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, asked President Buhari to stay focused and not be distracted by agitations for separatism rocking some parts of the country.
“There are countless Igbos scattered around the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, who live happily in peace, and do their legitimate businesses without complaint of marginalization.
“No matter what, let’s tolerate one another and always embrace the spirit of peace, forgiveness and reconciliation. “God that brought us together has not made a mistake. I have no other country than Nigeria, let’s join hands and solve our problems ourselves.”
He hailed the President on the infrastructural development in the South-East, particularly the second Niger Bridge, which has attained about 70% completion and slated for commissioning before the end of 2022.
The businessman urged Nigerians to always preach peace as against hate, and draw lessons from countries suffering the effect of war.
He pledged loyalty and commitment to the unity, peace and indivisibility of Nigeria, urging
He commended the President on the successes recorded in the North-East where Boko Haram fighters are surrendering in droves, urging more efforts in the North-West against bandits and other criminals.
Prince Eze counselled government to give more opportunities to local outfits like the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Corporation, to print election ballot papers, sensitive security documents, certificates, local, state and Federal Government revenue and treasury receipts, passports, and others, since it had the capacity to do so.
President Buhari thanked Prince Eze for visiting and for his good wishes for the country and government at all times.
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has scheduled October 6 and 7, 2021 for the holding of its fifth annual conference.
A statement today, September 15, by Olumide Iyanda, GOCOP publicity secretary, said the theme of the conference will be: “COVID-19 Pandemic: Recovery and Reconstruction in Nigeria,” adding that the choice of the topic is informed by contemporary political, economic, security, socio-cultural challenges facing Nigeria occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic, the statement said, has crippled socio-cultural and economic activities not only in Nigeria, but around the world and the concerted efforts made nationally and globally to tame the scourge.
The statement also quoted Maureen Chigbo, GOCOP vice president and chairperson of the conference organising committee, as saying that the programme will include a business lunch with leading marketing and corporate communications practitioners in Nigeria on the first day of the conference.
The business lunch will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on October 6 by 1pm prompt.
After the lunch, GOCOP members will go into a closed-door session to discuss internal affairs of the guild, the statement said.
On the second day, October 7, there will be a lecture on the conference theme to be delivered by a top official of the Federal Government, with discussions by experts in health, economic and political affairs. A state governor will chair the conference.
Both the governor and top government official along with other speakers will soon be made public.
The conference, which promises to be a worthwhile event, will bring together policy and decision-makers from the private and public sectors as well as scholars, non-governmental organisations and the media.
Nigerians who turned up for job interview at the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have ended up in detention over alleged forged certificates and academic records.
They were said to have presented the forged papers during the on-going recruitment interview exercise today, September 14.
A statement by the Commission’s spokesperson, Azuka C. Ogugua said that some of the false documents presented included declarations of age, school certificates and other documentation that showed evidence of tampering.
“This is contrary to and punishable under Section 25 (1) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
“The suspects have been detained and are being investigated by the Commission.”
For some time, the liquidation of the outstanding $418m judgment payments accruing to some consultants and contractors who secured the over $13b Paris-London Club refunds has been hugging media headlines and stirring debates in the public domain. The development was stirred by desperate moves and red flag raised by the Governor Kayode Fayem-led Nigeria Governors Forum [NGF] calling forensic audit and vetting by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (REFCC) before payment. President Muhammadu had approved the payment to the consultants following recommendations by the Attorney-General/ Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and his Finance, Budget and National Planning counterpart, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.
The NGF’s opposition to the payment was conveyed through a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari through the forum’s counsel, Chief Femi Falana, SAN. The petition leveled unsubstantiated allegations of shady deals against the consultants and top officials of the Federal Government who processed the payment approval. These corruption accusations were accentuated by a flurry of slur campaigns, chicaneries and other negative reports in the media targeted at the officials, including the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice and the Finance Minister as well as the consultants. In fact, not even the Federal Government as personified by the President and the Chief of Staff to the President has been spared of the NGF’s mudslinging. The Fayemi-led NGF is widely blamed as the engineer by the calumny campaign aimed at halting the payment of the pending consultancy fees. To some analysts, the NGF is merely fishing for excuses and technicalities to blackmail and deny the consultants involved their judgment payments and associated debts.
Apart from using media propaganda to besmear the consultants as predators, the NGF has also threatened legal action that is yet to see the light of the day., has been spared the slur campaigns and chicaneries engineered by the current NGF leadership over the payment of the pending consultancy fees.
Among others, the NGF is requesting the Federal Government to halt the payment process and institute an independent forensic audit on the debt refunds. It is also calling on the Federal Government to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the claims of the consultants.
But in making their argument, the NGF strives to downplay the fact that several consultants are involved and that there were many consent agreements. The agreements were entered into either between the governors and the consultants or between the consultants and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). For instance, a letter of no objection for payment of legal/consultancy fees to Linas International Limited regarding over-deductions on Paris and London Club loans on the accounts of states and local governments was signed on July 5, 1017 by the then Chairman of the forum and Fayemi’s predecessor, Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State. This is just one of several agreements that commit the NGF and ALGON to consent to payment of the consultants because the states and local governments cannot make a u-turn along the way after collecting many tranches of the same refunds.
Those describing the balance payment of $418million as humungous and unbearable should equate it with the sum of $13billion recovered and reaped by the beneficiaries. This hindsight, together with the binding agreements, probably explains why the Federal Government, which knows more about the matter, has demonstrated clear commitment to making the payments in order to avoid embarrassing judgment enforcements especially abroad.
This is why I fault those shouting ‘corruption, corruption’ in a bid to demonize the consultants their fees. Honouring the terms of the agreements with credible consultants like Ned Nwoko Associates and Linas International Limited will enhance rather than diminish the anti-corruption stance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Nigerians should not fall for the cheap antic of hollering corruption against innocent persons whose only known offence is that they are asking to be paid for lawful services rendered. I am also aware that Ned Nwoko’s involvement in the matter of proper debt or loan management predated this democratic dispensation and stretches far back to as early as 2004. This kind of leader with time-honoured reputation of fighting against injustice cannot be described as opportunistic or speculative in any way.
Is it not discernible that the governors who are indebted to the consultants are the ones kicking against liquidation of the debts? Of course, it is often the case in our clime that dishonourable people find it difficult to fulfill financial obligations once they have achieved their objective or received what they were looking for. That is the prevalent nature of man.
Recall that it was the NGF that about two years ago allegedly appropriated US$100 million which was part of the US$350 million earlier approved by Mr. President for payment to Ned Nwko’s firm, Linas International Limited as consultancy fee on Paris Club refunds to local governments. Ned Nwoko made the allegation in a letter he wired against the NGF to the Attorney – General of the Federation and Minister of Justice through his team of lawyers.
Nigerians have not forgotten how for several months, the Paris Club refunds constituted a lifeline of immense benefits particularly to the states and local governments. They provided needed relief for governments to meet key obligations particularly payment of workers’ salaries, pension arrears, provision of welfare benefits and critical social infrastructure. As a matter of fact, the refunds came at a time when the nation was recovering from the tides of recession and facing severe economic downturn which set in since 2013 and climaxed in 2018/2019. The multi-billion dollar refunds which came in tranches helped some governments particularly at the state and grassroots levels to regain their fiscal balance. And neither the Federal Government nor the consultants should be made to pay for the squandering or misapplication of the refunds by some governors.
And in factuality, if you risk nothing, you gain nothing. Why begrudge those who staked their lives and careers to stick out their necks and fight for a cause while you recoiled in your comfort zone and thrived in political and social correctness? As the holy books say, a labourer is entitled to his wages.
The NGF and ALGON should better leave sentiments aside and treat the matter of payment to the consultants on its merit. Some persons may not like the faces or names of the consultants who are entitled to the payment, but the simple question is: Did they facilitate the refunds? The answer is yes, simply and squarely.
It is also irksome that a dogged patriot like Prince Ned Nwoko who is the undisputable initiator and principal facilitator of the refunds is being subjected to needless further litigations by the NGF and their hirelings. It took the eagle eye of Ned Nwoko to detect that various tiers of government in the Nigerian federation were being shortchanged via over deductions running into billions of dollars in the seeming endless repayment of the Paris-London Club loans.
The UK and Nigeria-based international lawyer of repute and former member of the House of Representatives courageously took up the challenge of pursuing creditor-countries and their Nigerian collaborators to refund the excess deductions creamed off the public till particularly at the state and local government levels.
For several years dating back to 2004, Prince Nwoko, at grave personal risk pursued and fought the powerful 22-member country organization tenaciously. He fought from diverse fronts filing legal proceedings in London, Paris, New York, Geneva (Switzerland), Abuja and other places on behalf of Nigeria’s 36 states and 774 LGAs. He spent so much on local legal, auditing and forensic fees, among others in those countries without a dime from his clients (states and LGAs). At the end he triumphed over them and the dividend is the Paris Club refunds for states and LGAs. Why has the NGF and some wily Nigerians forgotten these efforts so soon? It smacks of lack of integrity, dishonesty, selfishness and duplicity to scheme to begin to sing different song on validly sealed agreements like those between Ned Nwoko and the NGF and the LGAs. Of course, the states and the LGas can’t possibly eat your cake and have it back.
Rather than be scurried, the Federal Government should be commended for the bold policy initiative to honourably liquidate the judgment debts and avoid the agony and calamity of judgment enforcements. It would be belabouring the obvious to state that many states are bereft of credibility when it comes to paying for jobs and honouring obligations. Just conduct a checklist on the states and the local governments and you will ascertain that most of them are truly “graveyards of so many companies, businesses and upstarts ventures who are lured into rendering services for which they take benefits and refuse to pay”. The present case about paying Paris Club refund consultants has not deviated from that ignoble trajectory.
In the case of Linas International Limited belonging to Ned Nwoko, he has already given substantial concessions to the NGF and discounted the sum he is entitled to in the judgment debts from $142million to about $68million. This implies that only about $68 million out of the reported $418 million accrues to him. And furthermore, his acceptance of Promissory Notes instead of direct cash payment, as was done for the states and local governments in the refunds results to a further loss of value.
The NGF appears to have committed a grievous error by lumping Ned Nwoko together with other consultants because is different and clear. Twisting of facts and manipulating public opinion to blackmail all consultants who staked so much to secure the much applauded Paris-London Club refunds that bailed many states and local governments in the country from severe economic downturn cannot help any side. The path of honour is better than that of lucre.
*** Nosike Ogbuenyi wrote from Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and can be reached via nzogbunzogbu4@gmail.com
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has levied a fine of $177 million against Google, accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominant position in the market by blocking phone manufacturers from the customised versions of its Android operating system.
The KFTC made it clear that the anti-fragmentation agreement (AFA) that Google makes manufacturers sign in exchange for using its Android operating system (OS) is an abuse of its power which restricts competition in the mobile OS market.
The agreement prevents phone manufacturers, including Korean companies Samsung and LG, from creating and installing their own versions of the Android OS, known as Android forks, on their devices.
According to Reuters, Google revealed in a statement that it intends to appeal the fine, as it overlooks the benefits that its Android OS offers.
“The KFTC’s decision released today ignores these benefits, and will undermine the advantages enjoyed by consumers. Google intends to appeal the KFTC’s decision”, the statement said.
In addition to the fine, the KFTC has also banned the company from forcing manufacturers to sign AFAs from now on, and to modify existing ones.
“The Korea Fair Trade Commission’s decision is meaningful in a way that it provides an opportunity to restore future competitive pressure in the mobile OS and app market markets,” KFTC Chairperson Joh Sung-wook said.
The KFTC revealed that this is the ninth-biggest fine it has ever imposed.
The fine comes on the same day that an amendment to South Korea’s Telecommunications Business Act – popularly dubbed the “anti-Google law” – came into effect.
The bill was passed back in August and it bans app store operators such as Google from requiring software developers to use their payment systems. This requirement has effectively stopped developers from charging commission on in-app purchases.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari today, September 14, hosted the new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Dr. Philip Mshelbila in his office in Abuja.
Dr. Mshelbila had just taken over the mantle of leadership at NLNG from Engineer Tony Attah.
A repented Boko Haram Commander, Adamu Rugurugu has invited God’s anger and curse on the top leaders of the group for misleading them and forcefully conscripting them into the group.
In a video clip, the ‘born-again’ Rugurugu, said: “the leaders (top commanders) had misled us and only God can avenge on our behalf because most of us were forcefully abducted from our homes, marched to Sambisa Forest, conscripted into their evil ideologies, persecuted and ill-treated because there is nothing that we have not seen.
“We were mobilized and stationed at Sambisa Forest, busy holding the horn while the leaders (top commanders) are milking the cow.
“Those sipping the milk are different from those holding the horns, we are the ones holding the horns, while they are busy drinking the milk.
“We cheated ourselves, and we will not go back again since God has now delivered us out of this predicament, we returned to the community and soldiers have accepted us.
“The leaders are not attending the battle, it is only the low-ranking members that carry guns, have you ever heard of any ‘Khadi’ or ‘Wazir’ leading the battle on the frontlines? They will say you are doing this thing for the sake of God and when you are killed, paradise will be your final abode, I swear to God this is a scam, you are not going to any paradise.
“Personally, to my brothers who are still inside the forest, we choose to lay our arms and surrender ourselves in order to turn a good leaf.
“You should become a responsible man, everybody will praise you and government is living up to its promise, they are very vigilant, anybody who did not repent and adjust his attitudes, action will surely be taken against him.”
The authorities of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) are alleged to be selling job opportunities at the institution to applicants seeking for jobs at N1.5 million each.
Information has it that staff in the office of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aliyu Shugaba and the Registrar, Tijjani Bukar are deeply involved in the sale of the employment letters.
It was gathered that the appointment letters issued to some of the ‘beneficiaries’ mostly for non-academic jobs this month were backdated to 2018.
Inside sources hinted: “Some of the new recruits received their appointment letters on Friday, and by Sunday, they were enrolled into the IPPIS, while several other staff who have received their employment letters since 2020 at the university, are yet to be enrolled.”
Efforts at speaking to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shugaba were abortive as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not responded to
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it known that the ongoing efforts to reduce poverty in the country has led to a situation where at present, 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households, comprising more than 8 million individuals are benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer program, while N300 billion has been disbursed to farmers.
Speaking virtually at the opening ceremony of the 14th Annual Banking and Finance Conference of Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the President said that the National Social Register of poor and vulnerable Nigerians had 32.6 million persons from 7 million poor and vulnerable households identified, imploring bankers to play a stronger role in improving livelihoods.
“From this number, 1.6 million poor and vulnerable households, comprising more than 8 million individuals are currently benefiting from the Conditional Cash Transfer program, which pays a bi-monthly stipend of N10, 000 per household.”
President Buhari said that the National Social Investment Programme is the biggest in Sub-Sahara Africa and one of the largest in the world.
“Some of the various initiatives embarked upon to boost agric trade in Nigeria include the Anchor Borrowers Programme through which the Central Bank of Nigeria had made more than 300 billion Naira available to over 3.1 million smallholder farmers of 21 different commodities including Rice, Wheat, Maize, Cotton, Cassava, Poultry, Soybeans, Groundnut, Fish, cultivating over 3.8 million hectares of farmland.
“It is on record that 80% of rice consumed in Nigeria is now produced locally.’’
President Buhari said that last year, he approved the establishment of InfraCo Plc, a world-class infrastructure development vehicle, wholly focused on Nigeria, with combined debt and equity take-off capital of N15 trillion, managed by an independent infrastructure Fund Manager.
“The Solar Power Naija project was launched in April 2021 with the aim of delivering 5 million off-grid solar connections to Nigerian households. In May 2021, the Rural Electrification Agency announced the planned deployment of solar-powered grids to 200 Primary Health Centres and 104 Unity Schools nationwide.
“Under the Family Homes Fund Limited, Social Housing programme incorporated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, more than two thousand hectares of land with title documents have been issued by 24 states with the capacity to accommodate about 65,000 new homes. The Central Bank of Nigeria is providing a N200 Billion financing facility, with a guarantee by the Federal Government.”
The President said that the theme of the conference: “Economic Recovery, Inclusion, and Transformation: The Role of Banking and Finance’’ was most appropriate, following the global shocks from Covid-19.
“I salute the Institute and the entire banking and finance industry for the commitment towards charting a practical path for economic recovery and transformation of our country, Nigeria, and by extension Africa as epitomized by the theme of your conference.
“I commend the financial services industry for its interventions and contributions towards the promotion of financial inclusion and literacy in our country. And more importantly, the roles played by the banks in fostering economic growth of the country.
“I am confident that the speakers that have been carefully selected to contribute to conference will share insights that will help individuals, businesses and governments at all levels make necessary adjustments and take the right steps towards our collective resolve to position Nigeria as one of the top economies in the world.”
The President said that a report from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product grew 5.01 per cent in the second quarter of 2021; the strongest rise since the fourth quarter of 2014.
“This is cheery news and an indication that the efforts of this administration at repositioning the economy is paying off.”
He advised the bankers and financial institutions to leverage on the abundant business opportunities to grow the economy.
President Buhari implored financial institutions to play stronger role in making sure the Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises were fit for purpose, with support in full implementation of “Agreement”.
“Indeed financial intermediary could not be any more relevant than at a time like this. We need you, the banks to drive value creation by developing new technologies, scaling payment infrastructure to serve the diversified economies expected to benefit from this Agreement.”
The President said that technological innovation is also important in the modern business terrain, and that most transactions now take place online given the advent of the “Internet of Things.
“As we continue to progress towards the next frontiers of digitization, we must harness all opportunities while being mindful of the inherent risks. For example, the protection of data is now of utmost importance to provide users with more secure access to the online space.’’
President Buhari said that the Covid-19 pandemic changed everything in the world, from interaction, work, communication to general lifestyle, noting that the epidemic also triggered new opportunities which helped to reshape the economy in the areas of digital transformation, trans-African trade, financial inclusion, security, workforce of the future, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, processing, supply, and logistics.
“As we look beyond the effects of the pandemic to the future, there are bountiful opportunities ahead of us. As you all may know, the African Continental Free Trade Area, of which Nigeria is subscribed, is not only an opportunity for the growth of trade but also the growth of Pan African businesses.
“It portends opportunities for our teeming youth population, the women, the creative industry, the digital economy, the financial services sector, agricultural value chain, commerce, industry, education and indeed every aspect of the economy as Nigerians will have unfettered access to the over 1.3billion consumer market.”
The President commended CBN, working in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, for providing single-digit financing to young Nigerians in the fields of fashion, film, music and Information Technology through establishment of the Creative Industry Financing Initiative.
In a goodwill message, President Paul Kagame of Republic of Rwanda said that exploring new technology in the banking sector, with more focus on innovation, will enhance financial inclusion.
“The banking sector can lead the way in integration. Banking is about trust.”
This was even as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele said that the regulatory body had been working with the Bankers Committee to scale the challenges posed by Covid-19, which include reduction of interest rates on loans, increasing the moratorium for payments, and injecting N3 trillion loans in the private sector.
“We do expect that the pace of inflation will moderate as we approach the harvest season.”
He assured that banks remain strong, resilient and healthy.
He said the N15 trillion infrastructure fund will be launched in October, 2021, while innovations like the Nigeria/International Financial will provide a gateway for capital and investments, and digital currency, e-naira, will enhance inclusion.
Six Nigerians: Abdurrahman Ado Musa, Salihu Yusuf Adamu, Bashir Ali Yusuf and three others have entered the list of United Arab Emirates (UAE) as confirmed terrorists’ sponsors.
Other Nigerians, whose names were released as among 38 international terrorists’ sponsors from different countries are Muhammed Ibrahim Isa, Ibrahim Ali Alhassan and Surajo Abubakar Muhammad
A state-run WAM news agency, today, September 14, said that the listing of the new terrorists’ sponsors came within the framework of the UAE’s efforts to target and disrupt networks associated with the financing of terrorism and its associated activities.
The UAE has therefore labeled four Emiratis, two Lebanese, eight Yemenis, five Syrians, five Iranians, six Nigerians, two Iraqis, one each from India, Afghanistan, Britain, Saint Kitts-Navis, Russia, and Jordan as belonging in the group of sponsors of terrorism.
The names of the confirmed terrorists financiers and their countries are given below:
1. Ahmed Mohammed Abdulla Mohammed Alshaiba Alnuaimi (UAE)
2. Mohamed Saqer Yousif Saqer Al Zaabi (UAE)
3. Hamad Mohammed Rahmah Humaid Alshamsi (UAE)
4. Saeed Naser Saeed Naser Alteneiji (UAE)
5. Hassan Hussain Tabaja (Lebanon)
6. Adham Hussain Tabaja (Lebanon)
7. Mohammed Ahmed Musaed Saeed (Yemen)
8. Hayder Habeeb Ali (Iraq)
9. Basim Yousuf Hussein Alshaghanbi (Iraq)
10. Sharif Ahmed Sharif Ba Alawi (Yemen)
11. Manoj Sabharwal Om Prakash (India)
12. Rashed Saleh Saleh Al Jarmouzi (Yemen)
13. Naif Nasser Saleh Aljarmouzi (Yemen)
14. Zubiullah Abdul Qahir Durani (Afghanistan)
15. Suliman Saleh Salem Aboulan (Yemen)
16. Adel Ahmed Salem Obaid Ali Badrah (Yemen)
17. Ali Nasser Alaseeri (Saudi Arabia)
18. Fadhl Saleh Salem Altayabi (Yemen)
19. Ashur Omar Ashur Obaidoon (Yemen)
20. Hazem Mohsen Farhan + Hazem Mohsen Al Farhan (Syria)
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The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has scheduled October 6 and 7, 2021 for the holding of its fifth annual conference.
A repented Boko Haram Commander, Adamu Rugurugu has invited God’s anger and curse on the top leaders of the group for misleading them and forcefully conscripting them into the group.
The authorities of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) are alleged to be selling job opportunities at the institution to applicants seeking for jobs at N1.5 million each.
Disputed Paris Club Consultancy Fees: Why Ned Nwoko’s Case Is Different, By Nosike Ogbuenyi
For some time, the liquidation of the outstanding $418m judgment payments accruing to some consultants and contractors who secured the over $13b Paris-London Club refunds has been hugging media headlines and stirring debates in the public domain. The development was stirred by desperate moves and red flag raised by the Governor Kayode Fayem-led Nigeria Governors Forum [NGF] calling forensic audit and vetting by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (REFCC) before payment. President Muhammadu had approved the payment to the consultants following recommendations by the Attorney-General/ Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and his Finance, Budget and National Planning counterpart, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.
The NGF’s opposition to the payment was conveyed through a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari through the forum’s counsel, Chief Femi Falana, SAN. The petition leveled unsubstantiated allegations of shady deals against the consultants and top officials of the Federal Government who processed the payment approval. These corruption accusations were accentuated by a flurry of slur campaigns, chicaneries and other negative reports in the media targeted at the officials, including the Attorney-General/Minister of Justice and the Finance Minister as well as the consultants. In fact, not even the Federal Government as personified by the President and the Chief of Staff to the President has been spared of the NGF’s mudslinging. The Fayemi-led NGF is widely blamed as the engineer by the calumny campaign aimed at halting the payment of the pending consultancy fees. To some analysts, the NGF is merely fishing for excuses and technicalities to blackmail and deny the consultants involved their judgment payments and associated debts.
Apart from using media propaganda to besmear the consultants as predators, the NGF has also threatened legal action that is yet to see the light of the day., has been spared the slur campaigns and chicaneries engineered by the current NGF leadership over the payment of the pending consultancy fees.
Among others, the NGF is requesting the Federal Government to halt the payment process and institute an independent forensic audit on the debt refunds. It is also calling on the Federal Government to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the claims of the consultants.
But in making their argument, the NGF strives to downplay the fact that several consultants are involved and that there were many consent agreements. The agreements were entered into either between the governors and the consultants or between the consultants and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). For instance, a letter of no objection for payment of legal/consultancy fees to Linas International Limited regarding over-deductions on Paris and London Club loans on the accounts of states and local governments was signed on July 5, 1017 by the then Chairman of the forum and Fayemi’s predecessor, Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara State. This is just one of several agreements that commit the NGF and ALGON to consent to payment of the consultants because the states and local governments cannot make a u-turn along the way after collecting many tranches of the same refunds.
Those describing the balance payment of $418million as humungous and unbearable should equate it with the sum of $13billion recovered and reaped by the beneficiaries. This hindsight, together with the binding agreements, probably explains why the Federal Government, which knows more about the matter, has demonstrated clear commitment to making the payments in order to avoid embarrassing judgment enforcements especially abroad.
This is why I fault those shouting ‘corruption, corruption’ in a bid to demonize the consultants their fees. Honouring the terms of the agreements with credible consultants like Ned Nwoko Associates and Linas International Limited will enhance rather than diminish the anti-corruption stance of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. Nigerians should not fall for the cheap antic of hollering corruption against innocent persons whose only known offence is that they are asking to be paid for lawful services rendered. I am also aware that Ned Nwoko’s involvement in the matter of proper debt or loan management predated this democratic dispensation and stretches far back to as early as 2004. This kind of leader with time-honoured reputation of fighting against injustice cannot be described as opportunistic or speculative in any way.
Is it not discernible that the governors who are indebted to the consultants are the ones kicking against liquidation of the debts? Of course, it is often the case in our clime that dishonourable people find it difficult to fulfill financial obligations once they have achieved their objective or received what they were looking for. That is the prevalent nature of man.
Recall that it was the NGF that about two years ago allegedly appropriated US$100 million which was part of the US$350 million earlier approved by Mr. President for payment to Ned Nwko’s firm, Linas International Limited as consultancy fee on Paris Club refunds to local governments. Ned Nwoko made the allegation in a letter he wired against the NGF to the Attorney – General of the Federation and Minister of Justice through his team of lawyers.
Nigerians have not forgotten how for several months, the Paris Club refunds constituted a lifeline of immense benefits particularly to the states and local governments. They provided needed relief for governments to meet key obligations particularly payment of workers’ salaries, pension arrears, provision of welfare benefits and critical social infrastructure. As a matter of fact, the refunds came at a time when the nation was recovering from the tides of recession and facing severe economic downturn which set in since 2013 and climaxed in 2018/2019. The multi-billion dollar refunds which came in tranches helped some governments particularly at the state and grassroots levels to regain their fiscal balance. And neither the Federal Government nor the consultants should be made to pay for the squandering or misapplication of the refunds by some governors.
And in factuality, if you risk nothing, you gain nothing. Why begrudge those who staked their lives and careers to stick out their necks and fight for a cause while you recoiled in your comfort zone and thrived in political and social correctness? As the holy books say, a labourer is entitled to his wages.
The NGF and ALGON should better leave sentiments aside and treat the matter of payment to the consultants on its merit. Some persons may not like the faces or names of the consultants who are entitled to the payment, but the simple question is: Did they facilitate the refunds? The answer is yes, simply and squarely.
It is also irksome that a dogged patriot like Prince Ned Nwoko who is the undisputable initiator and principal facilitator of the refunds is being subjected to needless further litigations by the NGF and their hirelings. It took the eagle eye of Ned Nwoko to detect that various tiers of government in the Nigerian federation were being shortchanged via over deductions running into billions of dollars in the seeming endless repayment of the Paris-London Club loans.
The UK and Nigeria-based international lawyer of repute and former member of the House of Representatives courageously took up the challenge of pursuing creditor-countries and their Nigerian collaborators to refund the excess deductions creamed off the public till particularly at the state and local government levels.
For several years dating back to 2004, Prince Nwoko, at grave personal risk pursued and fought the powerful 22-member country organization tenaciously. He fought from diverse fronts filing legal proceedings in London, Paris, New York, Geneva (Switzerland), Abuja and other places on behalf of Nigeria’s 36 states and 774 LGAs. He spent so much on local legal, auditing and forensic fees, among others in those countries without a dime from his clients (states and LGAs). At the end he triumphed over them and the dividend is the Paris Club refunds for states and LGAs. Why has the NGF and some wily Nigerians forgotten these efforts so soon? It smacks of lack of integrity, dishonesty, selfishness and duplicity to scheme to begin to sing different song on validly sealed agreements like those between Ned Nwoko and the NGF and the LGAs. Of course, the states and the LGas can’t possibly eat your cake and have it back.
Rather than be scurried, the Federal Government should be commended for the bold policy initiative to honourably liquidate the judgment debts and avoid the agony and calamity of judgment enforcements. It would be belabouring the obvious to state that many states are bereft of credibility when it comes to paying for jobs and honouring obligations. Just conduct a checklist on the states and the local governments and you will ascertain that most of them are truly “graveyards of so many companies, businesses and upstarts ventures who are lured into rendering services for which they take benefits and refuse to pay”. The present case about paying Paris Club refund consultants has not deviated from that ignoble trajectory.
In the case of Linas International Limited belonging to Ned Nwoko, he has already given substantial concessions to the NGF and discounted the sum he is entitled to in the judgment debts from $142million to about $68million. This implies that only about $68 million out of the reported $418 million accrues to him. And furthermore, his acceptance of Promissory Notes instead of direct cash payment, as was done for the states and local governments in the refunds results to a further loss of value.
The NGF appears to have committed a grievous error by lumping Ned Nwoko together with other consultants because is different and clear. Twisting of facts and manipulating public opinion to blackmail all consultants who staked so much to secure the much applauded Paris-London Club refunds that bailed many states and local governments in the country from severe economic downturn cannot help any side. The path of honour is better than that of lucre.
*** Nosike Ogbuenyi wrote from Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja and can be reached via nzogbunzogbu4@gmail.com