By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has formally joined Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd, as a fresh defendant in the disputed $238.8M Paris Club Refund legal battle with the federal government of Nigeria.
The company was joined as the 5th defendant along with the Federal Government of Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation.
Justice Inyang Ekwo joined the company in the fierce legal battle on the money to enable it defend and protect its interest in the matter.
Ziplon Concept Ltd and Abia State government had dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria, AGF, Federal Ministry of Finance, and the Accountant General of the Federation as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants respectively in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/323/2020.
The two plaintiffs – Ziplon Concept and Abia State – are claiming the sum of $238.8m from the four defendants as over deductions from the Paris Club Refund.
However, Muaritiz Walton Ltd in a motion applied to the court for an order to be made a party in the suit for its role as a consultant to Abia State in the Paris Club Refund.
In an affidavit in support of motion for joinder, Dr. Maurice Ibe, Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Mauritz Walton Ltd, said that the firm is the only known consultant to Abia State government on Paris Club Refund.
“I know as a fact that any other claim, apart from that of the party seeking for joinder, is a farce calculated to deny the party seeking for joinder the fruits of its labour,” he averred.
He said Mauritz Walton acted as consultant to the Abia State government in the recovery of the Paris Club Refund and not the first
plaintiff, Ziplon Concept Ltd as contained in the originating summons.
Dr. Ibe held that Mauritz Walton acted as consultant to the Abia State government in the recovery of the Paris Club Refund while Ziplon Concept Ltd only acted as consultant to the local governments on the same issue.
In his ruling Justice Ekwo dismissed the objection raised by Ziplon and Abia State government against the joinder adding that Mauritz Walton Ltd has established that it has interest to protect in the matter and therefore deserved to be made a defendant in the interest of justice.
The Judge therefore ordered that Mauritz Walton Ltd be made 5th defendant and directed the two plaintiffs to amend their processes to reflect the applicant as the 5th defendant within seven days.
The Judge also ordered each defendant to file their respective processes within seven days of service of the amended processes of the plaintiffs.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed December 2 for hearing of the matter.io