ABUJA – The Kastsina State Government and a financial consulting firm, Mauritz Walton Nigeria Ltd, are currently before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja over the state’s alleged failure to honour its contractual agreement to pay the firm 20 per-cent of the $217.3m (N66.3b) due to it from the Paris Club refund by the Federal Government.

The Katsina State Government had admitted, in its statement of defence, that it engaged the plaintiff in relation to the recovery of Paris Club refund but argued that the firm was not entitled to the 20 per-cent it claimed, because it failed to meet the conditions contained in its engagement letter.

Following the refusal of Katsina State government to pay, Mauritz Walton was forced to file a suit in order to get paid for services it rendered.

At a resumed sitting yesterday, the plaintiff ’s sole witness, Dr. Ibe, was cross-examined by lawyers to the defendants except that of Katsina State, who said he required about an hour to question the witness.

The plaintiff ’s legal team is led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

Ibe, while being cross-examined, insisted that his firm was entitled to be paid the 20 per cent fees for the services it rendered to Katsina State and that the other defendants were indirectly involved because they were in custody of Katsina’s funds.

Justice Ekwo, while adjourning further hearing to October 14, 15 and 16 this year, warned parties against dissipating the res (subject of dispute) in the case.

In the suit, the firm claimed that it was appointed by Katsina State government vide a letter dated August 18, 2014, with reference No: MOF/STAFF/409/1/31.

By the said letter, the firm said it was mandated to ascertain and recover the excess deductions by the Federal Government from its account to service its external debt between July 1995 and March 2002.

In its statement of claim, the plaintiff claimed, “It was agreed between it and the Katsina State Government that it would be paid 20 per-cent of what was due to the state from the excess deduction, which is commonly referred to as the Paris Club refund.

https://www.independent.ng/n66bn-paris-club-refund-firm-demands-20-fees-from-katsina-govt/


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