The Lead Consultant of Linas International Limited, the consultants for the recovery of over deductions from Paris and London clubs debt buy back funds, Prince Ned Nwoko has revealed that the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) demanded and received the sum of $100 million to prosecute elections in some states.
Nwoko was reacting to the flurry of allegations and claims trailing his personal and company’s demands for the payment of services fee from the state governments and local government councils in the country.
Addressing the media in Abuja, Nwoko described recent outbursts of the NGF on the matter as “noise”, adding tat a former chairman of the forum told him that the money was needed to prosecute elections in Bauchi, Ekiti and Ondo states.
He also alleged that when he submitted a bill of $350 million as the consultancy fee, the state governors demanded to be paid 50 percent of it before it could be honored.
According to him, the Ministry of Justice intervened and the governors eventually received the sum of $100 million.
Nwoko disclosed that the money being owed to the consultants was $68 million and not $418 million that has been in public space.
According to him, the consultants had nothing to do with $418 million, which he said must be a miscalculation.
He absolved the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of any wrongdoing as he said the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.
Nwoko stated that the agreements and judgment being executed were reached before the advent of the present administration.
However, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), in a statement by its Director (Media and Public Affairs), Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said:
“Contrary to the claims by Nwoko, the Delta North candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 election, it had never received $100 million.”
“It is a desperate, spurious and futile advocacy mounted and coordinated by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to justify the plundering of $418.9m from the public treasury of the states and local governments.”
“The salient facts on the fraud associated with the Paris Club refunds can never be changed by Malami or any of the consultants.”
“The facts will always remain whether the claims of the consultants were lawful and whether any judgment which is a subject of a pending appeal can be enforced or executed as the consultants now attempt to do.”
“The NGF, hereby, states unequivocally that it has not at any time been involved in or been in receipt of $100m 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.”
“Undoubtedly, 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.”
“As the judgments of the appellate courts, particularly that of the Supreme Court have begun to expose the creepiness and unlawful nature of the consultants claims.”
“It is not surprising that they are now afflicted by dizzy spells, seriously discomforted and are now driven by desperation to ensure that the plundering and fleecing of the state is quickly completed before the determination of the pending proceedings in the appellate and other courts in order to foist a situation of frustration and helplessness on the states.”
“This is obvious as the consultants are not in a position to restore the funds to the states if they lose on appeal; as it is becoming apparent.”
“The total amount which all the consultants are seeking from states and local governments as $418,953,690.59.”
“Ned Nwoko ($68,658,192.83); Dr. Ted Isighohi Edwards ($159,000,000); Panic Alert Security Systems Limited ($47,831,920); Riok Nig. Limited ($142,028,941.95); Orji Orizu ($1,219,440.45) and Olaitan Bello (USD215,195.36).”