A Federal High sitting in Abuja has today slammed the $418 million Paris Club debt suit filed by the 36 Governors against the Federal Government. The presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, while delivering the judge dismissed the suit for lacking merit.
In his statement, he said, “I do not see any merit in this case on the whole and I hereby dismiss it for lack of merit,” Justice Ekwo in his ruling upheld that the 36 governors and the Attorney General, who brought the case before the court has no locus standi to file the suit on the matter from the first place.
On November 5, 2021, the court had restrained the Federal Government from deducting monies accruing to the 36 states from the federation account to offset the 418 million dollars debt the states owed in connection with the Paris Club refund until the court determines a substantive suit.
The court gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to plaintiffs, Jibrin Okutekpa, SAN.
The plaintiffs in the suit were the 36 state Attorney generals.
Meanwhile, defendants in the suit were listed as; the Attorney-General of the Federation, Accountant-General of the Federation, and Ministry of Finance.
Others include the Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office, Federation Account Allocation Committee, Incorporated Trustees of Association of Local Government of Nigeria, among others.
The motion that was filled on October 27, 2021, revealed that 43 defendants were listed, though four prayers were sought where the judge granted three in the ex-parte motion.
What the plaintiffs prayed in the suit include an order of interim injunction, restraining the Federal Government from deducting any money accruing or due to all or any of the 36 states of the federation.
In the fourth order where a senior lawyer informed the court that the said deductions were yet to be commenced, withdrew the fourth prayer demanding for refund.
He revealed that the said deductions were slated to commence in November 2021.
Despite all this, the plaintiffs were making noise against such action as the defendant has insisted that they would go ahead with the deduction.
The senior lawyer revealed that if such is allowed to happen, no state would be able to pay workers’ salaries.
He said the states were by the way not responsible for such debt, as they were not a party to it. (NAN).
