By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, fixed March 25 to deliver a judgment in the 418million dollars Paris Club debt suit filed by the 36 state governments against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiffs and the defendants adopted their processes and presented their arguments for and against the matter.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court had, on Nov. 5, 2021, restrained the Federal Government from deducting monies accruing to the 36 states from federation account to settle 418 million dollars judgment debt in relation to Paris Club Refund pending the determination of the substantive suit.The court gave the order following an ex-parte motion moved by counsel to the plaintiffs, Jibrin Okutekpa, SAN.NAN reports that while the 36 states Attorney-Generals are the plaintiffs on the suit.
Some of the defendants listed in the suit include the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Accountant General of the Federation and Ministry of Finance.Others are Central Bank of Nigeria, Debt Management Office, Federation Account Allocation Committee, Incorporated Trustees of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), among others.According to the motion dated and filed Oct. 27, 43 defendants are sued in the matter.Although four prayers were sought for, Justice Ekwo granted three in the motion ex-parte.The reliefs sought by the plaintiffs 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.The senior lawyer, who informed the court that the Federal Government had not commenced the deduction of the monies, withdrew the fourth prayer, asking for a refund of the monies deducted.
He hinted that the deduction was expected to begin in November, 2021.He said despite his clients’ protest against such action, the defendants had vowed to go-ahead with the deduction.He said if allowed, no state would be able to pay workers’ salaries.Besides, Okutekpa argued that the states were not party to any contract resulting in such debts.“That is why we ran to your court,” he said.(NAN
