TheCable

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) says some unidentified people are determined to blackmail Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), over the $9 billion judgement against Nigeria.

A British court had given P&ID, an Irish engineering company, the fiat to seize Nigerian assets worth $9 billion.

This was sequel to the non-execution of a 20-year gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA) P&ID had with the federal government.

The company said the government not fulfill a clause in the deal which was to build a pipeline to channel the gas.

Dissatisfied, P&ID sought judicial remedy in 2012, and in 2017, it was awarded $6.6 billion in damages – of which interest rose to $9 billion.

Malami was blamed for not negotiating while proceedings were ongoing.

But in a statement, the coalition said at the time the federal government entered into the deal, Malami was not AGF and did not play any role.

Solomon Adodo, convener of Guardians of Democracy and Development, a member of the coalition, accused P&ID of being behind the move to blackmail the AGF.

“Irrespective of the glaring facts about the said contract and subsequent judgement, we have got wind of a bluntly determined attempt by hired unpatriotic civil society groups to blackmail the person of the Attorney General of the Federation – Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN – just in a bid to pass the buck and pave way for the hasty implementation of the $9.6 billion Judgement premised on a sham lawsuit filed at a Court in the United Kingdom,” he said.

“It should be stated in clear terms that Abubakar Malami was not the Attorney General and Minister of Justice neither did he have any role to play in the said contract.

“It is therefore mischievous to accuse Mr. Malami of sabotaging the Federal Government’s effort whereas he was not there from the commencement of the deal and/or the legal brickbats that ensued. Our findings reveal that the intentions of these civil society groups is to distract the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation while frustrating the efforts of the Federal Government to amicably arrive at a more plausible solution which will create a soft landing for Nigeria.

“P&ID has therefore engaged these mischievous civil society groups to serve as smokescreen in fighting the Attorney General of the Federation.”

Adodo added that the efforts of any group or individual to frustrate the government would be resisted.