The Lead Consultant for the recovery of over deductions from Paris and London clubs’ debt buyback funds, Ned Nwoko, says his firm is owed only $68 million not $418 million.
Nwoko was reacting to the flurry of allegations and claims trailing his company’s demand for the payment of fees from the state governments and local government councils in the country, on Saturday in Abuja.
The Lead Consultant of Linas International frowned at the recent outbursts of the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, regarding the Paris Club refund.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, had featured at the weekly briefings coordinated by the Presidential Media Team, on August 11, where he spoke extensively on issues surrounding the refund,
Malami said there was no basis for agitation by the NGF concerning deductions from the Paris Club refund paid to the consultants they hired.
The AGF had also described the governors’ action as akin to crying over spilled milk.
The governors, after their deliberations at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, allegedly accused the Minister of orchestrating the deductions from their funds to settle the consultancy fees.
Nwoko, however, absolved Malami of any wrongdoing as he said the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.
He revealed that the money being owed to the consultants was $68 million and not $418 million that has been in public space.
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According to him, his firm has nothing to do with $418 million, saying this must be a miscalculation.
He absolved the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami of any wrongdoing as he said the minister was only trying to ensure that the law was obeyed.
“I am compelled to embark on this public engagement to debunk the litany of lies, spin, and false narratives that had been dished out.
“This was to abuse the minds of the undiscerning public by the Chairman of NGF, Fayemi, against the payment of consultancy fees.
“The fees are legitimately earned and owed my firm for services rendered and which the states and local governments have fully been refunded.
“The outstanding fees owed my firm with regards to last work done for the states is approximately $68 million and not $418 million as maliciously sought to be conveyed by Fayemi and co.
“Our original claims calculated based on agreed terms was well in excess of $300 million.
“We offered huge discount on the entitlement to accept the $68 million,” he said.
Nwoko stated that the agreements and judgement being executed were reached before the advent of the present administration.
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