Govs dare EFCC to probe N552bn Paris club loan refunds

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe state governors over the alleged diversion of N552.74 Paris Club loan refunds.

The governors threw the challenge yesterday after a closed-door meeting held at the Old Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last year approved the sum of N552.74bn to be paid in batches to the 33 states owed.

Specifically on December 22, 2017, the president directed the governors concerned to use at least 25 percent of the refunds made to them from the excess deductions for external debt servicing to settle outstanding workers’ entitlements.

A top Presidency official yesterday told our correspondent that the Federal Government was infuriated that most of the governors did not act as directed by the president.

The official, who asked not to be named, said there were reports that some of the governors allegedly diverted the Paris Club loan refund to private pockets.

Investigators of the EFCC were said to have summoned the three signatories to the account of the Nigeria Governors Forum.

NGF Chairman and Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari told reporters that they were ready for the probe and were waiting for the anti-corruption agency to “come up” with the report of its investigation.