GOVERNORS ACCUSE AGF MALAMI OF MISLEADING PRESIDENT BUHARI ON PARIS FUNDS
Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has criticised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami for allegedly misleading President Muhammadu Buhari in the case of the $418 million Paris Fund deductions being claimed by a group of consultants.
The Governors' position was re-echoed yesterday by Chairman of Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, while speaking at a programme on Arise TV. He said it is difficult for any rationale mind to justify the haste and illogic upon which the AGFs utterances and actions are based on the controversial issue.
The Governor accused Mallami of defending a group of people he described as dubious. He said that he expected Malami to be on the side of Government and Nigerian citizens, instead of advocating for the hasty transfer of public funds into private coffers.
Fayemi also questioned the haste with which the Federal Government acted in the approval of the said amount to the six creditors, even when the Thirty Six State Governors expressed concerns over the legitimacy of the claims and claimants, ab initio.
Mr Fayemi said the Presidency and the Office of the Attorney General of The Federation acted against all known rules of financial responsibility in the transactions. This he said, shows how obviously bias they are on the controversial issue which bothers on public interest.
The Governors wondered why he, a public officer, was so eager to ensure that public funds are transferred to private individuals even when the alleged debt was a matter before a Court.
The said amount is allegedly owed the "Consultants and contractors for services rendered during negotiations for the refund."
The Paris Club refund has since stirred a disagreement among the Federal, State and Local Government and has degenerated into a legal dispute as it were.
Recall that an Abuja High Court had issued an interim restraining orders, stopping the Federal Government from deducting the said amount from the allocation of the Thirty Six States.
The debts are said to be accruals from consultancy and litigation costs, amounting to $418 million.
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