Governors appeal judgment on $418m Paris Club fund
Nigeria’s 36 state governors have appealed a Federal High Court judgment which dismissed their suit challenging the planned deduction of $418 million from the Federation Account to settle debts owed consultants engaged by them and local governments on the Paris Club refunds.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on March 25 dismissed a suit instituted by the 36 states’ Attorneys-General challenging plans by the Federal Government to deduct funds from the federation account to settle the $418 million judgment debt in relation to the Paris Club refund.
The governors made the appeal through their Attorneys General in a statement signed by five Senior Advocates of Nigeria ,SAN, S. I. Ameh, J. S. Okutepa, Dr Garba Tetengi, Ahmed Raji and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
The governors advised the public and all financial institutions in Nigeria and abroad that the matter was subjudice, urging them to desist from dealing with the defendants in the suit.
“With respect to promissory notes issued to them and intended to be discounted and given value from funds due to the states of the federation from the federation account.
“Be it known that any person or persons who take steps in respect of the promissory notes in the face of the pending appeal do so at his or her peril,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the defendants that the general public are advised not to deal with are Dr Chris Asoluka (doing business under the name and style of NIPAL Consulting Network, Linas International Limited, Joe Odey Agi, (Practising under the name and style of Joe Agi, SAN & Associates).
Others according to the statement include Riok Nigeria Limited, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Dr Ted Iseghohi Edwards, Panix Alert Security Systems Limited, Dr George Uboh, Ned Munir Nwoko, Prince Orji Orizu and Olaitan Bello.
The trial judge had in his judgment held that the attorneys-general of the 36 states had not shown enough evidence to accord them the right to institute the action.
Justice Ekwo had ruled that there was no express evidence to show that the governors of the 36 states consented to the filing of the suit.
