OGUN GOVERNMENT RISKS DEFAMATORY CHARGE OVER PARIS CLUB FUNDS
The Commissioner in response said it was a purported contract, a premeditated action, designed to scam the State Government under the guise of an anticipated arbitration judgment, adding that the government was not owing the company nor Chief Bode Mustapha, the Chairman of the establishment/
However, Mustapha in a swift response insisted that, the Amosun government was owing his company, and advised the Finance Commissioner to retrace alleged defamatory statements he made against him or face court action.
The Egba High Chief demanding payment from the State Government for the services he said his firm rendered on the Paris Club Refund, but the commissioner said the company was not been owed.
The Company argued in a letter dated 17th May, 2019 and addressed to the Commissioner, stating that “the following statements in particular were a baseless and unfounded defamatory attack on us and our esteemed Chairman, Chief Bode Mustapha:
“Ogun State indigenes should be on their guard, as regards the finances of the State, as some unconscionable politicians will do everything possible to recoup their investment in the last Governorship election from the public till”;
“The foregoing comments, which reflect the entirety of your Statements, are false, baseless and wholly defamatory against our character and that of our esteemed Chairman. We therefore DEMAND that you retract the above statements and publish a written apology regarding same in at least two national daily newspapers within 7 days of your receipt of this letter.
“Should you fail to comply with our demand we shall be left with no other recourse than to approach a court of law to obtain the appropriate legal remedies, including significant damages not only against the Ogun State Government but yourself personally.”
Penpushing also reports that, the consulting firm, insisting that the demand for payment was genuine, tendered two letters to back up the claims, which include; one by the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, while the second one was by the Commissioner to the Director General, Debt Management Office, Abuja.
