Why I filed legal action against Abia govt, officials over $151m Paris club refund ― Witness

A financial expert, Dr Maurice Ibe, has told an Abuja High Court in Kubwa, why he commenced legal action against the Abia State government and some of its officials over the $151 million Paris club refund.

Ibe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd, disclosed this while being cross-examined by Jeff Njikeonye (SAN), counsel Ziplon Concept (4th defendant) in a suit filed by his company against the Abia State government, the Accountant General of Abia state, a bank and Ziplon Concept.

Mauritz Walton sued the Abia government for refusing to pay an agreed 30 per cent of the sum of $151,410,816.39, being refunded for the over deduction from Abia state foreign loan portfolio by the Federal Government.

Upon cross-examination, Ibe confirmed he was engaged by the then governor, Theodore Orji, to determine, reconcile and recover the sum of $151 million which was owed the State government.

However, the payment of the 30 per cent has become subject to litigation.

The plaintiff in his testimony told the court that along the line, the Abia government brought in the 4th defendant (Ziplon) claiming it had renegotiated with it to carry out the job for the state.

He said: “My Lord, the 4th defendant wrote to the plaintiff that the state government will accept to pay the fee if he accepts a 40/60 per cent sharing formula.

“The Abia State government offered N250 million to me and the 4th defendant (Ziplon) in the presence of Jeff Njikonye (counsel to the 4th defendant), and representatives of Government of Abia State.

“In the meeting, it was revealed that Ziplon had already been paid N100 million and the issue became of what happens to the N250 million offered. The then Accountant General of Abia State was shocked to learn that I did not know that N100 million had been disbursed to Ziplon.

“At that point, I told him, I will not be part of money laundering for any individual or entity because of my career and profession.

“Based on the foregoing, I proceeded to write a petition to the EFCC against the Abia State government and some of its officials. The investigation is ongoing,” Ibe told the court and added that he rejected the offer because, “It was with bad intent, deceitful and in bad fate, and I did not even consider it.”

The plaintiff told the court that all he needed and had asked the Abia State government and the 4th defendant (Ziplon) to do, is for them to provide him, “be it a sheet of paper, documents etc that showed the 4th defendant did a legitimate job as per recovery of the excess deductions.

“If they do, we can then know how to apply the sharing formula, but till today, no evidence, not even a single piece of paper has been presented as work product.”

In the suit marked: FCT/HC/CV/2470/2017, filed by Charles Ude, the plaintiff is seeking the order of the court to make the Abia government pay Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd, the sum of N12 billion, being a consulting fee for the Paris Club Refund to Abia State by the Federal Government.

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VERDICT: MISLEADING!Why I filed legal action against Abia govt, officials over $151m Paris club refund ― Witness

Why I filed legal action against Abia govt, officials over $151m Paris club refund ― Witness