Categories: AFRICALatest

Nigeria: House Minority Caucus Demands Probe of $418m Judgment Debts

The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for investigation into the payment of the $418 million Paris Club refund-related judgment debts to six creditors, which was recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, despite widespread national objection by stakeholders, including state governors, chairmen of local governments and anti-graft agencies.

The lawmakers in a statement by its leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said president Buhari should note that the payment was cloudy, opaque, adding that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should investigate the matter.

The lawmakers insisted that the objection raised by the Association of Local Governments in Nigeria (ALGON) and the Nigeria Governor’s Forum, (NGF), in calling for forensic audit into the claims by the creditors, must be taken into consideration.

The house caucus therefore called on Buhari to immediately halt the payment processes until after the investigations.

They stated: “As lawmakers, our caucus insists that the approval to funnel out $418 million out of the national treasure under such hazy consent judgment and in the absence of the forensic audit, smacks of an endorsement of corruption.

“Our caucus urges President Buhari not to allow himself to be misled or entangled in this nebulous enterprise but to listen to the state governors and allow for the audit, particularly on the particulars of claims by creditors as well as the circumstances leading to the suspicious consent judgement.

“The Minority caucus demands that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice should avail himself of the audit to bring the processes and circumstances surrounding the judgment debt to public glare.

“The caucus maintains that the audit should unravel those behind the consent judgment, the propriety of such measures as well as why the objection by the governors was ignored.”

Udora Orizu in Abuja

 

Follow us on:

AriseNews

Recent Posts

CAC Removes Innoson, Daitama, 80,000 Dormant Companies From Register For Ignoring Annual Return Deadlines

The CAC has removed dormant companies that failed to file annual reports for 10 years…

1 hour ago

NEC Gives Kwara, Kebbi, Adamawa One Week To Submit State Police Reports

NEC has set a one-week deadline for Kwara, Kebbi, and Adamawa to submit state police…

3 hours ago

Amazon Faces Potential EU Investigation Over Preferential Treatment Of Own Products

Amazon may face an EU investigation over preferential treatment of its own products under the…

3 hours ago

Akpabio Hails Igbo Resilience + Ndume Begs Senate To Allow Ubah’s Widow Succeed Him – Trending With Ojy Okpe

https://cdn.veri.app/a21afe40-c7c7-4a5c-b145-4fc72382ab4b.mp4 Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during the night of tribute, held in honour of the…

3 hours ago

Kano Governor Yusuf Reunites 76 Pardoned Minors To Families

The Kano State government has reunited 79 pardoned minors accused of looting in the #End…

3 hours ago

Matt Gaetz Steps Down as Trump’s Attorney General Pick

Matt Gaetz has announced that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as Donald Trump’s…

4 hours ago