Only 5 Govs Reverted $3.1bn Paris/London Club Refunds To Local Govts – Ned Nwoko

Chairman, Linas International, Mr Ned Nwoko, has said except for Delta, Bauchi, Benue, Kwara, and Ondo States’ governors, other states including the FCT have defaulted in reverting $3.1 billion Paris/London Club Refunds to local government areas.

Nwoko, who petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) called for an investigation of 30 state governors including the Federal Capital Territory for allegedly failing to remit $3.1 billion paid to their local government.

The said refunds to local governments were paid to and received by the state governments, acting through their umbrella body Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) which interfaced with the Ministry of Finance throughout the refund exercise.

In the complaint to the chairman, CCB, Nwoko’s company, he said the factual basis for this complaint arises from the judgment in Suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/130/13 between Linas International Limited, Local Governments of Nigeria and Association of Local Governments Nigeria (ALGON) against the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) & Ors. as well as the NGF.

The petition reads in part: “The said refunds to local governments were paid to and received by the state governments, acting through their umbrella body NGF who interfaced with the Ministry of Finance throughout the refund exercise.”

“The local governments have written letters to the office of the minister of Finance informing her that the state governors have failed and refused to remit the monies refunded through them.

“The above issues and facts form part of my present complaint against all the State Governors including the FCT, excluding Delta, Bauchi, Benue, Kwara, and Ondo State Governors, of the Federation.”

The petition lamented the recent attempt to set aside the above seven-year-old judgment which has been fully enforced by the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Finance, with respect to refunds to Local Governments.

It further said it has engaged with the office of the Minister of Finance on the allegation, however, all these actions and applications by the state governors through NGF are geared towards deflecting attention on the allegations of the local governments which is that the monies meant for them and paid through their state governments have not been appropriately remitted.

The letter said the fact that these state governors have failed or refused to respond to the letters of the Minister of Finance requesting accountability was very disturbing and worrisome and therefore contrary to the code of conduct of public officeholders of Nigeria.

“We, therefore, write to draw your attention to these gross abuses of government power and conflict of interest by public officers and therefore request an investigation of this matter and if proved, appropriate actions should be taken,” the petition added.