The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has debunked claims by Ned Nwoko on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami SAN and Paris Club Consultants, over the alleged misappropriation of USD418.9 million from the public treasury of the states and local governments.
A statement by Director of Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, described Nwoko’s statement as desperate and efforts in futility by dishing out lies’.
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The NGF reiterated that it would continue to protect Nigerians from being deprived unlawfully of resources meant for their development noting that they remain an apolitical organisation.
They went further to state unequivocally that it has not been involved in any receipt of USD $100m or any funds from Nwoko to finance any elections in any state of the Federation.
While berating the role of the AGF in this saga, they maintained that the Chairman of NGF has stood his ground on the unconstitutional and unlawful nature of claims by the consultants by refusing to be compromised.
The statement read in part: “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 USD418.9 million 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.
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“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$100 million or any other funds from Ned Nwoko to finance elections in any State.
“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.
“We urge Ned and the other consultants to end the media war and direct all energies towards defending the appeals.”