FOLLOWING the leak of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) report on an alleged illegal transaction between the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and a consultancy firm, Melrose, on the first tranche of the London-Paris Club refund to states, the forum has asked the anti-graft agencies to leave it out of how the firm disbursed its own funds.
Citing the report which it believes emanated from the Commission after its submission to President Muhammadu Buhari, the NGF in a statement by its spokesman, Abdulrazaque Barkindo in Abuja on Monday said its officials had already been interrogated by the EFCC and it had given full details of the transactions.
However, it said it was constrained to react to the leaked report which indicted the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and imputed illegal dealings in the disbursement of the Paris Club refund payment to states of the federation as handled by the NGF.
According to the statement, it is true that Melrose General Services Limited was one of the consultants that was duly engaged and documented to facilitate the disbursement of the Paris Club Refund but the consultant was also paid an amount commensurate to the services it provided, among other numerous consultants that were involved in the process.
It said it is not in the NGF’s purview to determine how Melrose or other consultants disburse or utilize the consultancy fee paid to them.
The statement added: “The NGF should therefore not be dragged into how its suppliers, lawyers, contractors and consultants spend their legitimate incomes and revenues.”
According to the statement, the the NGF is still being inundated with claims from many other consultants from all over the country who had earlier been engaged and promised commission by the respective states.
It maintained: “The NGF maintains its earlier position that it has done nothing illegal as far as the disbursement of the Paris Club Refund to states and the consultants are concerned. The Forum has all necessary approvals to act in the manner it did.
“Therefore, the misinformation in the media about the disbursement and insinuations being made concerning some Governors that are being mentioned is outright mischief.
“We will like to state that the approval for the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund by President Muhammadu Buhari is indicative of his Confidence in the NGF for the manner it handled the disbursement of the first tranche of the fund.
“The NGF would like to once again place it on record that it played an altruistic and patriotic role in ensuring that it aided, as directed, approved and authorized by the Presidency, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Debt Management Office (DMO) and all other necessary agencies of government, the disbursement of the funds to entities and individuals lawfully entitled to it.
“All approvals, authorization, terms of engagements and disbursement were properly documented and are verifiable by anyone, including the general public.”
Alleged to have been involved in financial impropriety in the handling of the refund, the consultant has also reacted to the leaked report, saying that it only maintains a legal professional contractual relationship with the NGF.
In statement made available to the media on Monday, it alleged that the report sent to the president was deliberately leaked by the EFCC, noting that it was forced to respond in view of the wrong conclusions of the report.
Signed by O. Amobi, Senior Associate/Chief Operating Officer, the statement said: “Following a proposal we submitted to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) last year, our firm was duly engaged by the NGF to carry out a legitimate service leading to a refund of foreign loan over-deductions made by the States.
“The details, purposes, award and contractual terms of our engagement are properly documented. Also, the process of execution of this contract was duly documented and approved by the Federal Government. Subsequent benefit was received by the States under the first tranche of release.
“All the relevant documents have been made available to the EFCC.
“Having performed and executed the terms of agreement, Melrose was duly paid the agreed consultancy fee structured purely on a success basis. This effort eventually gave rise to the refunds made to the States.
“It is worthy of note that at no time was our firm paid N19bn as being alleged in the report given to the media by the EFCC.
“All our bank transfers and transactions are supported by proper documentation, copies of which we have made available to the EFCC.”
The consultant assured that the relationship between Melrose and NGF is purely a contractual relationship which meets every global best practice, adding: “As at today, we are still engaged as consultants to NGF and there has never been a time the Forum raised any complaints about our services.
“We remain a highly professional and law abiding financial and risk management firm and refuse to be dragged into the present politics between the Senate and EFCC.
“Our Managing Partner, Mr Robert Mbonu, as a senior banker, excelled in all the financial institutions he worked.
“At the Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), a bank that was owned by the Saraki family, his role as the acting MD of the bank, over 13 years ago, led to its successful and banking industry acclaimed resolution, restructuring and hand-over.
Finally, since our firm, executed the NGF verification mandate under a consortium with other consultants.
“We hereby wish to be excluded from the present unwarranted media attention. This is because there is no logical explanation that can be given to this act of singling out our firm.”
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