Nasarawa State Ex-Attorney General, Barrister Lagi Opened Can Of Worms On N92.7m APC Debt To Lawyers

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Rabiu Omaku

Governor Al-Makura’s S.A on special duties denies involvement of any financial deals with lawyers

Bar. Abdullahi Mohammed, the immediate past Special Adviser to Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has denied any involvement in the payment of money to lawyers challenging the outcome of Local Governments elections won by the Peoples Democratic Party at the Nasarawa State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal.

The pioneer Commissioner of Justice under Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said he did not work for the ruling party and that he didn’t collect money on behalf of the APC from Governor Al-Makura.

The erstwhile Special Adviser in a response in his Facebook messenger to universalreporters247.com said; “I thought the matter is subjudice? I don’t work with the APC or with the office of the Attorney General. How can I be given money to disburse to Lawyers? They should prove that in court, isn’t it? For the records, I didn’t, and I did not and never collect any money for any Lawyer. Is that how they pay Lawyers Mallam Omaku?

The revelation by the former attorney General and Commissioner of Justice to the current All Progressives Congress under the leadership of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura , Barrister, Innocent Lagi has exonerated the present crop of the executives of the ruling party in the state over the ongoing legal battle following the inability of the state Governor to settled an outstanding profession fee of N92.7m owned 6 resident lawyers hired by the Governor to challenge the victory of its rival in Local Government election held in march,2014.

Barrister Innocent Lagi in exclusive interview apportioned blame on the role played by the former Special Adviser to the Governor on special duties, Barrister Abdullahi Muhammed over the treaty reached with the legal team of the ruling party aftermath of the council election. He further affirmed that himself, (Lagi), Bar. Abdullahi Muhammed and the legal Adviser to the APC handed over a chunk amount of money to a team of lawyers which was handed over to the lawyers.

“There was hitches between the Governor, the resident lawyers and the Ministry of Justice, because this is where we signed the deal, The problem was that the resident lawyers (I mean local lawyers who did not accomplish the work assigned to them by the state Government, We have to hired additional four (4) visiting lawyers from Jos apart from those from Sheltu chambers.”

He asserted that the state Governor directed him to hand over the amount of money to the team of lawyers hired by the APC to challenge the victory of the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party.

The former Justice commissioner attested he served as an intermediary between the team of lawyers and the state the Governor ,He affirmed that Governor Al-Makura gave him N7.3m for onward handing over to the team of hired lawyers, Honourable Lagi also attested that the amount handed over to him was delivered without hitches.

The problems started when part of the money given to my colleague, Barrister Abdullahi Muhammed was not properly delivered to the lawyers, That formed the genesis of the impasse between our Local lawyers and another team of lawyers bringing the number of lawyers to eleven (11) .

Asked about the exact amount handed over to the legal team, Barrister Innocent Lagi hinted the agreement was sealed between Governor Al-Makura, himself, the special Adviser on special duties, Bar.Abdullahi Muhammed to the tune of N100m.

While fielding question on who was the signatory to the N100m, The former commissioner buttressed that Al-Makura signed and sealed the deal on behalf of the party.

“I on my capacity as the attorney General and commissioner of Justice advised him (the Governor) on the implication of such deal but he went ahead by taking a unilateral decision by paying the money directly.

The high court sitting in Lafia Nasarawa state has slated 19th/01/2016 for hearing of the matter.

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