Nwoko’s lawyers fault NGF on Paris Club refunds

COUNSEL to Linas International, a company belonging to international lawyer and politician, Ned Nwoko, have faulted what they alleged was a deceitful narrative about the ongoing enforcement of court judgments on Paris Club refunds by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum ( NGF), saying the court cannot grant a stay of execution of a judgment that has been executed.

In a letter to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, dated September 6, 2021, the legal team said: “The NGF is misconceived about its powers and rights as prescribed by Section 165 of the 1999 Constitution over matters surrounding local government funds.”

The lawyers, led by Joe Gadzama ( SAN), include Ken Njemanze ( SAN), Jeph Njikonye ( SAN), Onyeka Nwokolo, and Tim Odaah.

The lawyers said: “The facts and circumstances of the case at hand, with respect to suit No. FHC/ ABJ/ CS/ 130/ 2013, is entirely different from local government funds coming from allocations to the Federation Account. The funds involved in this case were judgment sums recovered from the Federal Government by Linas International Limited in favour of local governments.

“In the past few days, the news and social media have been awash with skewed interpretations, false narratives about the ongoing enforcement of court judgments arising from several cases with diverse factual basis, but all related to the Paris Club Refunds through the issuance of promissory notes to the judgment creditors.”