$418m Paris Club Refund: Wike Fires Ned Nwoko

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has slammed Ned Nwoko, for attacking him over his refusal and challenging at court decision to $418 million Paris Club Fund by the Federal government.

 

Newsonline reports that Governor Wike said the decision of the former House of Representatives member to attack him because of his insistence that the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ayu Iyorchia and the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar must ensure balance in the party was connected to the Paris Club Fund.

 

This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, by Information and Communications Commissioner Chris Finebone.

 

Chris Finebone’s response on behalf of Wike was in reaction to Ned Nwoko’s call to the national leadership of the PDP to expel Wike for anti-party activities.

 

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The husband of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels, Ned Nwoko, had earlier called on the PDP national leadership to expel Wike, accusing him of persistently engaging the opposition political parties and other anti-party activities.

 

Reacting to Ned Nwoko, Finebone said, “For the benefit of those who may be at sea about why Ned Nwoko has embarked on his voyage of unwarranted attacks on Governor Nyesom Wike, it has to be said that Ned Nwoko is reeling and riling due to the agitation and legal action some governors filed, among whom was Governor Wike, which effectively stopped the attempt to fleece the commonwealth of Nigerians to the tune of $418 million over the Paris Club refund to some consultants, led by Ned Nwoko.

 

He added, “It would be recalled that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), asked the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to release $418 million to Linas International Limited, a company owned by Prince Ned Nwoko and other consultants, over the Paris Club refund saga.

 

“Governor Nyesom Wike is among the governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) who approached the court to stop that deduction from the allocation to states and payment of same to Ned Nwoko and other so-called consultants.”

 

Wike further said, “It is understandable that since the botched attempt, the former lawmaker and businessman has resorted to throwing tantrums at Governor Wike at the slightest opportunity, even when the former lacks proper understanding of the issues in question.”

 

“The Rivers State government is challenging Ned Nwoko to make public the details of the kind of business he does apart from seeking spurious deals around government corridors to finance his passion,” the statement read.