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Why Govt Paid $3.1b Paris Club Refund Judgment Debt – Malami

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Malami Wants Journalists Sanctioned For False Reports
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, on Wednesday defended himself against the charge of wrongdoing in the payment of the $3.1billion Paris Club refund judgment debt.

The minister insisted that the debt was ordered for payment by a valid high court judgment in Abuja.

The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) incurred the huge debt against Riok Nigeria Ltd and Ted Edwards & Edward Partners during the Paris Club and London refunds and has been ordered to be paid to the contractors through the Central Bank of Nigeria after a series of limitations.

The AGF was accused of pushing for the debt payment against the interest of the debtors.

But Malami in a reaction said that the huge debt arose from legitimate transactions freely entered into by parties in the court action long before President Muhammadu Buhari came to power and before his own appointment as AGF.

At a press conference he addressed in Abuja to clear his office and his person of an alleged shady deal in respect of the judgment, Malami specifically explained that the order for the judgment debt payment came from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13 between Linas International Ltd & 235 others versus FGN & 3 others.

He explained that the suit instituted in 2013 had prayed for the recovery of $3.188.079.505, adding that the judgment was delivered in favour of the plaintiffs on December 3, 2013 before the advent of the incumbent administrator and his own appointment.

Consequent upon the judgment, the AGF further explained that Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory granted a Garnishee Order Absolute in 2016, directing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as Garnishee to pay the huge debt sum.

To ensure that no sharp practice came into play as witnessed in the P&ID judgment scandal, the AGF said both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) were deployed by his office into the matter for investigations.

READ ALSO: Youth Restiveness Ticking Time Bomb For Africa, Others – Elumelu

Malami said that at the end of their thorough investigations, the two agencies confirmed the contractual agreements between the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria and their contractors and also the validity of the court judgment ordering the payment of the debt by the CBN.

He, therefore, wondered why two media organizations came about “their alleged malicious and baseless publications” linking him and his office to an “alleged pushing for hurried payment of the judgment debt” ordered since 2013 by a competent court of record.

He faulted the media publications, adding that their authors deliberately concealed facts relating to the judgment debt and fed the Nigerian public with falsehood that portrayed him and his office in bad light.

Malami insisted that neither President Buhari nor himself was in office in 2013 when ALGON and their contractors as well as law firms engaged themselves for services that later resulted in court action and court order for judgment granted in favour of the plaintiff.

“In fact, when it became inevitable that the payment had to be effected with the consent of Governors Forum and ALGON, the office of AGF had to extract an undertaking and indemnity from the Nigeria Governors Forum NGF and ALGON in 2019.”

While exonerating himself from any blame in the judgment debt payment, Malami insisted that all necessary precautions were taken by his office and pleaded with the media to always get their facts clear in order not to feed the public with falsehood.

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BREAKING: Abacha’s Ex-chief Of Staff Oladipo Diya Dies

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Diya

Retired Lt.General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya, the former Chief of Staff in General Sani Abacha’s military government, is dead.

His death was confirmed by Prince Oyesinmilola Diya. He said the former military administrator of Ogun State passed on to glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023.

Born on the 3rd of April, 1944, Diya was military Governor of Ogun State after the Buhari-Idiagbon coup of December 31st, 1983.

Diya joined the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and fought during the Nigerian Civil War.

He later attended the US Army School of Infantry, the Command and Staff College, Jaji (1980–1981) and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru.

While serving in the military, Diya studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained an LLB degree, and then at the Nigerian Law School, where he was called to bar as Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He held other top military posts like GOC, 82 Division and finally the Chief of General Staff (military Vice President) to Gen Sani Abacha

The statement read: “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; we announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband,Father, Grandfather,brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.

“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.

“Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”

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Breaking: Appeal Court Retains Adeleke As Osun Governor

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BREAKING: Adeleke Freezes Osun Accounts , Reverses Appointments After Swearing In As Governor
Governor Adeleke

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has vacated the tribunal judgement that nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, on Friday held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, was meritorious.

Aside from setting aside the judgement of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500, 000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola

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BREAKING: PDP Suspends Anyim, Fayose

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Anyim and Fayose

Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose; former president of the Senate, Pius Anyim; Prof Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu were on Thursday suspended from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

The PDP made the suspension on Thursday after an extensive review of the affairs of the party, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).

The PDP also referred the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba.

“The PDP urges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party across the country to remain united and focused at this critical time,” the statement added.

 

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