Chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani Kayode has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with a vow to join in putting to shame, local and foreign elements that are out to disintegrate Nigeria by way of war.
Speaking to newsmen today, September 16, shortly after an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential villa, Abuja, where he formally declared his defection to APC, Fani Kayode said: “Nigeria must not disintegrate and those that want us to end up fighting one another in a war will be put to shame.
“The most important thing for us today is we must not allow our country to fall apart based on disagreement and misunderstanding amongst one another.”
Fani Kayode, who was a foundation member of the APC before he crossed over to PDP, made it clear that he would join hand with progressive elements to move the country forward and save it from the hands of retrogressive elements, both local and foreign.
“The most important thing is that we work together as a people, as a country, and move our country together and fight and kill the terrorists and put to shame, the foreign elements and I emphasise that word, foreign elements, that want us to end up fighting one another in this country and turning our country into a massive refugee camp.”
Fani Kayode, who was a minister under the regime of President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, said that one of the reason for his return to the ruling party, is to appreciate the efforts that have been made, particularly in the last couple of years in terms of security, fighting insurgency, fighting terrorism, and most importantly, “is the appreciation of the fact that we must remain one as a nation, build bridges, work together to move the country forward.
“It’s very important for us to appreciate the fact that when we see that there are good things that are happening, we appreciate those good things. It’s not always negative and when the time is right, we change direction to join forces and join hands to move the country forward.
“Doing this doesn’t mean we’re enemies to anybody. All of us, even if we are in another party, the PDP or any other party or any other group, we can still work together across party lines, regional lines, ethnic lines, and religious lines.”
Fani Kayode made it clear that it didn’t bother him how people, especially his friends in the PDP would react to his defection at this time saying: “it’s left to them.
“I have many friends in the PDP. If you remember, in 2013, I was actually one of those that formed the APC. There were a few issues and I went back to PDP, but I think it’s an individual thing.
“As a party, of course, they may not be too happy, but I have no enemies there and I have nothing negative to say about anybody there.
I believe in moving the country forward together with everybody that believes in Nigeria and wants Nigeria to progress and I also believe that we must recognise the fact that there are two more years for this administration or there abouts.
“We must come together to make sure we survive it; we must come together to make sure Nigeria is a better place and we must work together, regardless of party affiliation.
” Whatever they say, whatever they choose to say, is entirely up to them. I have many friends there, let’s hope that they don’t feel too bad about it. We’re all Nigerians.
He said that the only thing that remains constant in life is change, stressing that it is wrong for people to hold him to what he had said in the past, adding that if circumstances change he would always bow to superior argument and logic.
“For me, the primary cause today and let me say this, there’s no way I will renege on my fundamental core values and principles. Anybody that knows me will tell you that.
“I believe in certain things; how the country should be moved forward. I will fight for that from within this party to ensure it’s done. I believe in fairness and equity.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has sought for the full support of the world football ruling body, FIFA, to further develop football game for the betterment of the country.
The President, who played host to the FIFA delegation, led by its President, Gianni Infantino and the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, at the Presidential villa, Abuja today, September 16, stressed the need for FIFA “to consider Nigeria top on its plan for support and investment.”
He said that there are good reasons why FIFA should see Nigeria as one of its greatest assets when it comes to the development of football.
Speaking specifically on the six-nation
Aisha Buhari Invitational Football Tournament for which the FIFA team are in the country, Buhari pledged his administration’s commitment to use football for the development of the girl-child, inspiring young people to have rewarding careers in the game.
The President expressed delight that Nigeria has produced excellent role models to inspire the next generation of stars to take up the sport.
‘‘Our National women’s football team, the Super Falcons are a force to reckon with both on the continent and internationally.
‘‘Some of our women footballers such as Asisat Oshoala, who only recently became the first African to win the women’s European Champions League with her club Barcelona.
‘‘Rasheedat Ajibade, Rita Chikwelu, Onome Ebi, who is the only African to have played in five FIFA Women’s World Cup Finals, Desire Oparanozie and before them Perpetual Nkwocha, Mercy Akide-Udoh, Nkiru Okosieme and Ann Chiejiene are globally recognized stars.”
He said that the sport is being accorded the highest level of attention possible by the government to enable rapid development of abundant talents in the country.
‘‘I have also approved the unveiling of a committee to draw up a 10 year football development master plan for the country.
‘‘I expect that the recommendations of this committee will accelerate the development of football. It is my hope that it will further improve the fortunes of the game internationally.
On the Aisha Buhari Cup (ABC), with the theme: “Playing for Good”, which is on-going in Lagos, the Nigerian leader said the tournament could not have come at a better time.
‘‘This Women’s football competition is a novel idea here and I am sure it will be exciting in its execution for our women folk and lovers of football.
‘‘It is also a confirmation of what we already know about our women,’’ he said.
The President thanked FIFA for making ABC, a ranking tournament, adding that he looks forward to more countries joining to participate in the future.
President Buhari pledged support for the latest FIFA initiative, the FIFA Connect programme which aims to drive football development at the grassroots using technology, assuring football body’s top echelon of Nigeria’s active participation in the programme .
This was even as the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare said Nigeria, as the leading black nation in the world, is central to all that FIFA is seeking to achieve in its football development plan.
‘‘We love football and we follow the game passionately.”
Responding, Infantino renewed FIFA’s commitment to support the development of football in Nigeria, pledging to strengthen its partnership with the Nigeria Football Federation.
‘‘Nigeria is a big football playing country. We need Nigeria to lead the football movement in the world, together with Africa as a continent.”
The FIFA President thanked President Buhari for supporting the development of the game, appealing to him to help FIFA amplify the message of football as a uniting force.
‘‘When football is played there are no divisions in a nation or continent. Football brings people together and to do that we need important countries like Nigeria.”
The Nigeria Naira has hit an all-time low of N562 per dollar in the unofficial market, known as black market, even as dealers lament that the currency may plunge to N600/dollar soon.
It was gathered from different Bureau de Change dealers that the Naira closed between N562 and N567 today, September 15, as against the N557 traded the previous day.
At Zone 4 BDC market in Abuja, the Naira traded at N567 against the dollar.
In Lagos, a BDC seller Muhammed said that Naira traded at the same price, adding: “I don’t have the dollar available for sale.”
Between September 1, 2020 and today, the Naira has lost its value at the black market by 6.84 per cent from N526 traded to N562 on Wednesday.
The pressure on the naira has recently worsened after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) cut its weekly intervention to the unofficial market, leading to overwhelming demands for the dollar on the market.
The naira closed N412.08 per dollar in the Investors’ and Exporter window.
The unofficial rate is N151.46 higher than the N410.54 rate held by the CBN.
“We see the naira going worse very soon if the pressure persists. Demand has become high and we are experiencing scarcity of dollars,” said Bare, a BDC dealer in Abuja.
Nigeria Presidency has warned that it is currently judging Yoruba nation’s agitators by their unholy alliance with officially proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that had since been declared a terrorist group.
“Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps.
“No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.
“The cooperation is a worrying development, once parsed with Yoruba Nation’s increasingly violent rallies in Nigeria.”
These were contained in a statement today, September 15 by the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu.
He said that for Nigerian diaspora groups to use the world’s largest platform, the United Nations General Assembly to garner attention to their causes is not unexpected, adding that it was however shocking to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in withIPOB)
“IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation.
“It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. And it is currently attempting to hold Nigerian states hostage with orders to stay at home under threat of terror.”
The Presidency stressed that actions and associations speak louder than words.
“Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion must therefore be ignored.
“Meanwhile, the Nigerian government will continue its work at the UN- to fight against corruption and illicit financial flows, and international cooperation.”
Garba Shehu said that if we want to see stolen funds returned to their rightful home in Nigeria, the government must continue to campaign for and coordinate global action on asset recovery.
“The government will remain the leading regional actor in the fight against global terror – particularly against threats emanating from the Sahel. Through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme, the country also shares technical expertise with countries from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific.
“At the same time, the administration is implementing a programme of environmental sustainability to combat developments which destroys Nigerian communities in vulnerable regions.
“Only through the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development can we secure a prosperous future for Nigeria.
“As the largest country in Africa, the government takes seriously its leadership role and will continue to strive for continental unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
“Our expectation is therefore for the media to work with the government to focus attention on the core issues the President, the leader of the country has on his programme.”
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.
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Chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Femi Fani Kayode has returned to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with a vow to join in putting to shame, local and foreign elements that are out to disintegrate Nigeria by way of war.
President Muhammadu Buhari has sought for the full support of the world football ruling body, FIFA, to further develop football game for the betterment of the country.
The Nigeria Naira has hit an all-time low of N562 per dollar in the unofficial market, known as black market, even as dealers lament that the currency may plunge to N600/dollar soon.
The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has scheduled October 6 and 7, 2021 for the holding of its fifth annual conference.
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