FG paid $6m on non-existing judgment - AGF

08.01.2008

A part payment of $6 million (N720 million) was made by the Federal Government in the last administration on a non-existing court judgment.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aodoakaa, disclosed this on Monday while briefing the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary.

Aondoakaa, with Mr Remi Babalola, the Minister of State for Finance, was summoned by the committee to explain the non-inclusion of judgment debts against the Federal Government in the 2008 budget.

Aondoakaa said the payment was made to a foreign-based oil company, Marsh Oil, out of the 18 million dollars it claimed was awarded by a US court in its favour.

He said the balance of 12 million dollars was about to be made to the company when it was discovered that a copy of the judgment could not be produced.

“When I was approached to approve the payment of the balance, I became curious and demanded for a copy of the judgment.

‘’ And strangely, it has not been giventill today,’’ he said. He said the total judgment debts accumulated from 1998, included N8 billion, 12 million dollars and 2 million pounds (N500 million).

Aondoakaa blamed the ministries, departments and agencies for the non-inclusion of the debts in the budget, as the details of such judgments had not been forwarded to his office.

The minister said all judgment claims would be verified with a view to contesting those with grounds for appeal. Babalola said N5 billion was earmarked for the settlement of cases decided by the last court of jurisdiction.