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NGF’S RESPONSE TO NED MUNIR NWOKO’S PRESS STATEMENT DATED 20TH AUGUST, 2022
NGF’S RESPONSE TO NED MUNIR NWOKO’S PRESS STATEMENT DATED 20TH AUGUST, 2022
Not surprisingly, the desperate, spurious and futile advocacy mounted and coordinated by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on behalf of the so-called Paris Club Consultants to justify the plundering of the humongous sum of USD418.9m from the public treasury of the States and Local Governments continued on Saturday 20th August 2022, when Ned Nwoko, in a press statement attempted to blur and obfuscate the real facts and legal issues in controversy by dishing out blatant lies and half-truths.
The facts are and will always remain: whether the claims of the consultants are lawful and justified under our constitution and whether any Judgment which is a subject of a pending appeal can be enforced or executed as the consultants now attempt to do? If both questions are answered in the negative, it does not matter if the contracts leading to the claims were entered into by any public official, past or present. No person or persons can agree to blatantly circumvent our Constitution and get away with it. Neither is the period when Judgments were obtained of consequence in this case.
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 apparent 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.
It is therefore needless joining issues with NED NWOKO or indeed any of the consultants. It is however imperative to debunk patent lies dished out in order to disabuse the minds of the undiscerning public. It is curious that in the introduction of himself, Mr. Ned Nwoko said nothing about his current status with the UK Law Society and the widely held belief that he was disbarred for fraudulent activities.
While he strenuously tried to single out and justify his own bogus claim of USD$68 million; the total amount which all the consultants working in concert, collectively seek and claim from the States and Local Governments, albeit unlawfully is USD$418,953,690.59 broken down as follows:
i. NED MUNIR NWOKO ($68,658,192.83)
ii. DR. TED ISIGHOHI EDWARDS ($159,000,000)
iii. PANIC ALERT SECURITY SYSTEMS LTD ($47,831,920)
iv. RIOK NIG. Ltd (USD142,028,941.95)
v. PRINCE ORJI ORIZU (USD1,219,440.45)
vi. BARRISTER OLAITAN BELLO (USD215,195.36)
TOTAL – USD$418,953,690.59
It is instructive to note that all the claims by the consultants are rooted in Suit No FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13 BETWEEN: LINAS INTERNATIONAL LTD & 35 ORS VS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA & 3 ORS in which NED NWOKO instituted, and was awarded a bogus 20% of the sum of $3,188,078,505.96 from the States and Local Government Paris Club refunds. The Judgment has been challenged on appeal by the States and NGF in Suit No CA/ABJ/PRE/ROEA/CV/327M1/2022: ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ABIA STATE & 35 ORS VS LINAS INTERNATIONAL LTD & 239 ORS.
The attempt by NED therefore to separate his own claim of $68 million as if it is not related to the claims of other consultants is being clever by half. All the consultants claim to have rendered the same or similar service of helping the States and Local Governments to recover over-deducted Paris Club refunds by the Federal Government performed some contracts to be paid from the Paris club refunds. Their cases therefore rise or fall together. A poison of the part is a poison of the whole. What is unlawful remains unlawful. Its origin is immaterial and the part or role played by all parties separately or collectively at all times is unlawful and cannot be remedied.
As it is common with all unholy alliances, it does appear that the romance between the consultants and their determination to fight together under the AGF’s tacit coordination to pull out of the States the sum of USD$418,953,690.59 may have suffered a crack. This must have led NED to address the press alone and single out his unmerited claim of $68 million as justifiable. This is also coming just on the heels of a similar press briefing by the AGF, a few days ago during which he stoutly defended all the consultants and berated the States for opposing or delaying the prompt payment of the sum claimed. It was thought that the AGF had done a good job of defense for all of them; but NED’s decision to go solo to make his own case without reference to others suggest that the union of consultants is gradually falling apart. What however NED did not tell the public is: If all the Local Governments engaged him directly as claimed and if he acted for the States through his lawyers and the NGF requested that he extends the services to all the States as also claimed, what different service did TED ISEGHOHI-EDWARDS, his collaborator and conspirator (indicted by the EFCC) rendered for which he is being paid the whooping sum of $159,000,000 also from the Paris Club refund?
In his desperation to justify his claim, NED peddled untruths that his team was a member of the Federal Government Committee constituted to reconcile figures under the Paris Club refunds to the States and Local Governments. That is patently false. The report of that committee dated May, 2007 shows that only the FMF, OAGF, CBN, DMO and RMFC (secretariat) were members. Private persons who were not privy could not have been included in a committee that was meant to examine purely public financial records. It was this Committee that did all the work now claimed by NED and the other consultants.
While it is possible that the unlawful scheme hatched by the consultants to feast on public funds may have over the years been executed with the cooperation of enemies of the State without anyone raising an eye brow; the bubble has now burst and the time to account has come. It is an irony that NED and other consultants who flaunt Judgments of courts as justification for payment are now uncomfortable and jittery when the same Judgments are tested on appeal. An appeal is not a circumvention of a Judgment as NED may want the public to believe. It is a constitutional right. The consultants have no choice but to pursue the various appeals. While NED has vowed to fully enforce the Judgment in FHC/ABJ/CS/130/2013; may we remind him that the law does not permit the enforcement of a Judgment that is on appeal. Let him reserve all his vituperations against the NGF Chairman and canvass them on appeal as the law may permit him.
Understandably, the SC has in its Judgment dated 3rd June, 2022 sent a clear signal in SUIT NO 337/2018: RIOK NIG LIMITED VS NGF 7 ORS that the claims of the consultants are unequivocally unconstitutional as funds of States and Local Governments cannot be attached in the Federation account in the manner approved and pushed by the AGF. Let the consultants therefore have their day in court with the NGF and upon victory; they can seek to be paid. It is absurd to pursue payment in the face of all pending cases. While the consultants are strangely emboldened by those who should ordinarily oppose the payment and protect public trust; the law is not silent. It upholds the truth at all times no matter how long it takes.
No professional advocacy or media campaign to hoodwink the public can change the law. We are not unmindful of the ridiculous claim by one of consultants that it was his media campaign that swayed a Federal High Court Judgment in favour of the NGF. Interestingly, the public which is the greatest victim in the mismanagement of scare public resources has since been well informed and is on red alert to avert and stop what is apparently an attempt by some ravenous rent seekers masquerading as consultants to further exacerbate the economic woes of citizens under the prevailing dire economic situation. The use of libelous language on the person of the Chairman of NGF who has refused to be compromised and has firmly stood his ground on the unconstitutional and unlawful nature of the consultants’ claims is not helpful to their case either.
The NGF is an apolitical organization that operates under defined principles targeted at good governance. Its role in the whole of this Paris Club refund debacle to consultants is to ensure that Nigeria citizens are not unlawfully deprived of resources meant for their development. NGF will not therefore waste its valuable time to defend unsubstantiated allegations against individuals or persons who are in a position to defend themselves. If NED is sure of his facts, he is at liberty to approach the necessary authorities to bring to justice any person or persons and all conspirators (including himself) who were allegedly involved in misappropriating public resources for campaign financing. The NGF hereby states unequivocally that it has not at any time been involved in or been in receipt of USD$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 became the strongest advocate to the consultants is now evident in NED NWOKO’s press statement wherein he praised the role played by the AGF describing it as inevitable. NED cannot say that the consultants have no official Platform to canvass their case, when the AGF has, in spite of public protestation, provided the strongest and most virulent platform to campaign for the expeditious payment of the sums claimed. The AGF has addressed and issued over half a dozen press statements justifying why the consultants should be immediately paid. Not even NED’S solicitors could have done any better.
The NGF and its leadership remain focused and determined to diligently pursue all appeals on the Judgments on the Paris Club refunds. All that it request of the AGF and the consultants is to allow the appeal processes to run and be exhausted. It may be that the consultants will successfully defend the appeals after which they will be paid. However, if they lose as RIOK NIGERIA LTD has lost; which is the most likely verdict that shall befall all the other consultants; let the public funds in issue remain protected. We urge NED and the other consultants to end the media war and direct all energies towards defending the appeals.
Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo
Director, Media and Public Affairs
Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat
Niger State Government Welcomes Buratai Foundation Aid for Flood Survivors
The Niger State Government in north Central Nigeria has welcomed officials from the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation and Tukur and Tukur Foundation, on a condolence visit to the state following the recent tragic flooding in Mokwa.
The foundation, owned by former Chief of Army Staff, His Excellency Amb Lt General Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR (Rtd), has initiated a medical outreach program to aid the affected communities across the country.
During the visit, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Abdullahi Imam, expressed the state government’s appreciation for the foundation’s commitment to aiding recovery efforts.
The timeliness of the Foundation’s assistance during this challenging period is highly appreciated,” said Dr Imam, highlighting the vital role of timely health interventions in post-disaster recovery.
The Niger State Government, the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation, and Tukur and Tukur Foundation have pledged to work collaboratively to restore health and wellness in the flood-affected Mokwa community.
Officials of the foundation were warmly received by the state government, which acknowledged the importance of their support in responding to the humanitarian needs of displaced and affected residents.
Following the engagement in Minna, the foundation’s delegation proceeded directly to Mokwa to commence immediate medical interventions, prioritizing urgent healthcare for those impacted by the flooding.
According to Nana Fateema Mohammed and Muhammad S. Abubakar, Information Officers with the Ministries of Primary and Secondary Healthcare, the support has been met with heartfelt gratitude.
“Nigerlites express deep appreciation for the compassion and actionable support shown by the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation and Tukur and Tukur Foundation as communities rally to rebuild and recover,” they said in a joint statement.
Dr Imam echoed the sentiment, reiterating, “We express deep appreciation for the compassion and actionable support shown by the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation and Tukur and Tukur Foundation.”
The outreach is part of a wider effort by the foundations to deliver humanitarian and healthcare services to vulnerable populations across Nigeria, particularly in times of crisis.
President Tinubu condemns brutal killings in Benue State
By Ifeoma Ikem
Following the recent attacks in Benue state, the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of His Excellency,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has strongly condemned the recent brutal killings in Benue State and the North East region.
These senseless acts of violence are not only an affront to human dignity but also a direct challenge to the peace and stability of our nation.
In a press statement signed by the secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume , President Tinubu expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and the entire people of Benue State and the North East. The loss of innocent lives in Yelewata community and other affected areas is a tragedy that calls for collective grief and urgent action.
Akume said: “Mr. President for his decisive response in directing an immediate high-level delegation to Benue State and announcing his personal visit to the region. This demonstrates his commitment to the security and welfare of all Nigerians, as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to him,the President’s decision to visit Benue State on Wednesday is a clear testament to his hands-on leadership and empathy for the plight of affected communities. Such proactive engagement is vital in addressing the root causes of insecurity and fostering sustainable solutions.
“Ahead of the President’s visit, I have been directed to lead a delegation comprising the Inspector General of Police, heads of intelligence agencies, the National Security Adviser, and key members of the National Assembly to assess the situation on the ground. This underscores the seriousness with which the President views these attacks.
“As a former Governor of Benue State, I am acutely aware of the devastating impact of these violent attacks on our people. The disruption of livelihoods, displacement of communities, and destruction of property threaten not only individual well-being but also the socio-economic stability of the region.
He said the Federal Government is fully committed to bringing the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to justice. I urge our security agencies to intensify their efforts, enhance intelligence-gathering, and work closely with local communities to restore peace and prevent further bloodshed,he added.
President Tinubu’s planned town hall meeting with stakeholders during his visit is expected provide a critical platform for dialogue and collaboration.It is an opportunity to listen to the concerns of the people and develop actionable strategies to end this cycle of violence.
“The economic implications of insecurity in Benue and the North East cannot be overstated. The disruption of agricultural activities, trade, and other economic ventures exacerbates poverty and food insecurity, with far-reaching consequences for the entire nation.
“Having served as Senator for Benue North-West and Minority Leader of the Senate, I understand the importance of legislative-executive synergy in tackling insecurity.President.Tinubu-led government will continue to work closely with the National Assembly and state governments to implement policies that enhance security and protect lives.
“I commend the resilience of the people of Benue and the North East in the face of adversity. Your courage and determination inspire hope, and I urge you to remain steadfast as the government takes decisive steps to address these challenges.
The Tinubu administration remains resolute in its determination to restore peace and security across Nigeria. No effort will be spared in deploying the necessary resources and strategies to safeguard our citizens and their properties.
I am confident that President Tinubu’s visit will mark a significant turning point in our efforts to restore lasting peace in Benue and the North East.
His leadership and personal engagement will undoubtedly reinvigorate our collective resolve to end these senseless killings.
He called on all Nigerians to unite in support of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in every part of our country. Security is a shared responsibility, and we must all play our part in fostering harmony and reporting suspicious activities to the authorities.
Politics
Mr. President, This Is Not a Dilapidated Nigeria: An Open Rebuke of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Extravagant Governance
Mr. President, This Is Not a Dilapidated Nigeria: An Open Rebuke of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Extravagant Governance.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared in 2023 that he inherited a “dilapidated Nigeria” from his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians expected an urgent shift toward austerity, fiscal discipline, and a governance style that reflects the dire economic realities facing the nation; but what we have seen under Tinubu’s government is not the leadership of a man burdened with fixing a broken country. Instead, it is the portrait of extravagant ruling elites drowning the nation in reckless spending while millions of citizens are crushed under inflation, joblessness, insecurity, and despair.
It is for this reason that Emir of Kano and former CBN Governor Mohammed Sanusi II bluntly told Tinubu: “You do not claim to have inherited a dilapidated economy and then proceed to spend like a drunken sailor.” His words sting with truth and today, Nigerians demand a response beyond media propaganda and deflection.
Extravagant Spending Amid National Hardship
How can President Tinubu justify allocating ₦21 billion to renovate the Vice President’s residence in Abuja and an international conference center built for ₦240 million in 1991 renovated for ₦39 billion, when public universities are struggling to buy basic laboratory equipment and students sleep on floors? If the country is truly dilapidated, why should National Assembly members be gifted ₦70 billion worth of SUVs at ₦160 million each, in the same year citizens are taxed to death for basic services?
Even more appalling is the ₦5 billion budgeted for vehicles for the office of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (an office that does not exist in the Nigerian Constitution). Is this not fraud with a fancy name?
Then comes the presidential fleet, which received an allocation of ₦5 billion in 2024, while another ₦5 billion was budgeted for a luxury presidential yacht. Let that sink in: a yacht in a nation where nearly 133 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty (according to the National Bureau of Statistics, 2022).
Corruption and Nepotism Masked as Governance
How can we take Tinubu’s reform agenda seriously when he awarded a ₦15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to Gilbert Chagoury, a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire and close ally of the President? Let us remember: Chagoury was once deported under former President Obasanjo for economic sabotage. Today, he’s back in favor; not by merit, but by political convenience.
What about the ₦5 billion allocated to the Presidential Tax Reform Committee headed by Taiwo Oyedele? To date, Nigerians have seen no report, no reform outcomes, just photo-ops, and hollow press statements.
And if things are so bad, why appoint the largest cabinet in Nigerian history (48 ministers) when the Oronsaye Report has already recommended the downsizing and merging overlapping ministries and agencies? What happened to that cost-saving reform?
The Subsidy Scam
Tinubu told Nigerians that he removed fuel subsidies to free up funds for development, but where is the money? How much has been saved and how has it been spent? Till now, there’s no transparent accounting.
On the contrary, after removing the subsidy, pump prices skyrocketed from ₦185/liter to over ₦900/liter in many states. Electricity tariffs followed suit. While Nigerians were told to “tighten their belts,” the government loosened theirs with gold-plated policies and unchecked looting.
Governance Without Empathy
Under Tinubu’s watch, education has become a privilege, not a right. Public university lecturers are owed a backlog of salaries from previous ASUU strikes. Students are being priced out of classrooms by inflated fees. And health? Only the wealthy can afford decent hospitals, while public health institutions resemble war zones.
Food prices have doubled. A 50kg bag of rice now costs over ₦75,000. Tomatoes, which used to be ₦300 per basket, now go for ₦10,000 in some markets. Yet, the President and his vice continue globe-trotting at taxpayers’ expense.
According to BudgIT’s 2024 report, the Tinubu government allocated ₦90 billion for Hajj pilgrimage. Is Nigeria now a theocracy? Should religion be more important than education, health, infrastructure, and human capital?
Meanwhile, each Senator reportedly earns ₦21 million monthly, and House of Reps members pocket ₦13.5 million. These increments were passed under Tinubu’s administration without a whisper of concern for the 133 million poor Nigerians.
The Deceptive “Renewed Hope”
Tinubu’s campaign slogan, “Renewed Hope,” has fast become “Renewed Hopelessness.” Nigerians have seen no signs of a turnaround. Instead, what they see is a system where:
Nepotism thrives: critical appointments are handed to cronies, not technocrats.
Security remains elusive: from Zamfara to Plateau, Benue to Borno, killings are rampant.
Inflation is unchecked: currently at 33.69% (May 2025), according to the NBS.
The naira is weak: trading at over ₦1,500/$1 in the parallel market.
Unemployment continues to soar: youth unemployment stands at 53.4%, the highest in West Africa.
IF THESE AREN’T SIGNS OF FAILURE, WHAT ARE?
Words from the Wise
The late Chinua Achebe once warned, “THE TROUBLE with NIGERIA is SIMPLY and SQUARELY a FAILURE of LEADERSHIP. ” That rings louder now than ever. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka described our leadership as a “CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE MASQUERADING as GOVERNANCE.”
Even elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark recently declared: “This GOVERNMENT is not BEING SINCERE with NIGERIANS. You don’t REMOVE SUBSIDY and then begin to LIVE a LIFESTYLE of KINGS and EMPERORS.”
In the words of Prof. Pat Utomi: “LEADERSHIP is not about ACQUIRING luxury cars and private jets. It’s about making LIVES BETTER for the AVERAGE CITIZEN.”
Yet, what we see under President Tinubu is the institutionalization of greed. Leaders are getting richer, while citizens can barely survive.
Final Word
Mr. President, the claim that you inherited a “dilapidated economy” is not enough. What matters is what you’ve done with the economy since May 29, 2023. Sadly, the answer is clear: the cost of governance has exploded, the suffering of the people has intensified and trust in public institutions has eroded further.
We demand answers:
Where are the subsidy savings?
Why the jumbo budget for luxuries?
Why ignore the Oronsaye Report?
Why increase electricity tariffs without improved service?y
Why are critical sectors neglected while SUVs are bought in bulk?
Nigerians are watching. The world is watching. This trend must be arrested; urgently. It is time for accountability, not propaganda. If this administration is truly committed to rescuing Nigeria, then start acting like you inherited a failing state and not a treasure chest for elite consumption.
Enough of deception. Enough of waste.
Written by George Omagbemi Sylvester Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
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