A Federal High Court on Friday ordered Akwa Ibom State government to deposit the sum of N20bn in any of the three banks, namely First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank, respectively, in respect of a suit filed by Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd against the government.

Mauritz had sued the Minister of Finance, Accountant General of the Federation, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Akwa State government, as the 1, 2, 3, and 4 defendants over the refusal of the government of Akwa Ibom to pay it consultancy fee over the Paris Club Refund.

Mauritz challenged the defendants on ground of their refusal to abide by the Court’s interlocutory order freezing Akwa Ibom State Paris Club Refund Account, pending the determination of suit filed against the state over refusal to pay it consultancy fee on the Paris Club Refund.

Mauritz dragged the state before the court seeking the attachment of the said amount as a result of the failure of the state government to pay the applicant 30 per cent of the state’s Paris Club refund by the Federal Government being consultancy charge for the services it rendered to the state government in pursuing the refund on behalf of the government.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the order Friday in the suit marked: NO FHC/ABJ/CS/1154/2017.
In a ruling, Justice Kolawole held: “Upon the application of the plaintiff’s counsel, Ahmed Rsji, SAN, informing the court of the irregularities on the Defendants Affidavit to show cause as ordered by the court of 30/11/2017; it is hereby ordered as follows:

“That in the absence of any affidavit to show cause, and the one filed by the first defendant having been held to be irregular field, it is the interest of justice that prayer in the plaintiff motion ex parte dated 31/11/17 be granted as prayed to abide the hearing and determination of the plaintiff motion and notice interlocutory injunction which may be held at future date with fourth defendant notice of preliminary objection dated 12/12/17.
“That the said prayer granted shall enable the first, second and third defendants to pay the said sum in prayer five into an interest yielding account with any of these banks: Zenith Bank, GTB PLC, and or First Bank PLC
“That this should be ruling of this court based on the agenda which I have set for today’s proceeding on 30/11/17 when the plaintiff ex parte motion was held.”

The matter was adjourned till January 30, 2018.
Justice Kolawole had frozen seven accounts linked to Governors’ Forum, which, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, were used by the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to launder the sum of N10bn said to be derived from the proceeds of the Paris Club refund.

Justice Kolawole directed that the freezing order would last for 45 days within which the EFCC must either institute charges in respect of the transactions against the relevant suspects or apply to the court for an extension of the order.

The judge also gave seven days to the account owners, if interested in seeking the setting aside of the freezing order, to file an application which must be served on the EFCC.

Source: http://thestreetjournal.org/2017/12/paris-club-refund-court-orders-akwa-ibom-govt-to-deposit-n20bn-in-bank-over-failure-to-pay-mauritz-walton-consultancy-fee/

Front Page: lalasticlala mynd44

Akwa Ibom government is insanity persinsonified. These corrupt idiots agreed to pay 30% of their refund towards consulting. This money could have went to education, infrastructure projects, pensioners etc. Other states are doing this aswell but didn't agree to 30% like mumus in Akwa Ibom government. The EFCC should get to bottom of these matters.

Sadly most people are worried about the governor disowning aide over cow comments.

chai...why did they agree to such ridiculous deal......

and why do they need a lawyer to get money from the same goverment.....

ohhhhhhhhh...my headache is returning....

tsdarkside:
chai...why did they agree to such ridiculous deal......

and why do they need a lawyer to get money from the same goverment.....

These so called consultants are just a means to launder cash to their cronies. Every single state could handle this issue in house through state ministry of justice. Why would they need assistance pursuing refund they are owed. They have finance minister in state already. Even if they want consultant what advice warrants 30% of total refund.

Front Page: lalasticlala

Blue3k:


These so called consultants are just a means to launder cash to their cronies. Every single state could handle this issue in house. Why would they need assistance pursuing refund they are owed.

i dont know....i dont understand.....

APC pays 10% as whistle blower fees

It's funny the State Assembly never cares to look into these sort of issues. They just coast along with whatever these governors do. The know they represent unthinking constituents who don't demand anything from them. That's why they sit comfortably not worrying about unpaid workers or pensions.

Keneking:
APC pays 10% as whistle blower fees

Get into consultancy business it pays more.

Blue3k:
It's funny the State Assembly never cares to look into these sort of issues. They just coast along with whatever these governors do. The know they represent unthinking constituents who don't demand anything from them. That's why they sit comfortably not worrying about unpaid workers or pensions.




Get into consultancy business it pays more.

During the constitutional amendment under GEJ administration, the National Assembly voted to make the State Houses of Assembly independent. Shockingly, when it was time for the HOAs to ratify it, they voted against their own autonomy. They said they preferred to be under the whimps and caprices of the State Governors.
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That's when I knew that our legislatures in the State Houses of Assembly are about the most useless set of elected officials in the country.
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Very pathetic! Our problems are definitely much more than the people in Aso Rock.

Bevista:
During the constitutional amendment under GEJ administration, the National Assembly voted to make the State Houses of Assembly independent. Shockingly, when it was time for the HOAs to ratify it, they voted against their own autonomy. They said they preferred to be under the whimps and caprices of the State Governors.
---
That's when I knew that our legislatures in the State Houses of Assembly are about the most useless set of elected officials in the country.
---
Very pathetic! Our problems are definitely much more than the people in Aso Rock.

Man that's concentrated mental retardation. I've never heard of an entity refusing to vote itself more political power. It just doesn't make sense from a self interest perspective. Even if they had power a lot of people only focus their eyes on executive branch. I should be surprised though most of these guys only occupy seat for tax payer fubded personal SUV's with Ghana must bags in boot.

In this case without EFCC rock we wouldn't know about funny business going on with Nigerian governor forum. Then there's a bunch of other side stories with other states paying consultants.

A few other states offered between 12 and 20 per cent to their consultants. The breakdown is as follows: Ondo (12%);  Niger, Enugu, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi (15%); and Edo, Bayelsa, and Oyo( 20%).