By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
The Bauchi State High Court has ordered Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited to refund over N5 billion to the Bauchi State Government over a disputed consultancy agreement.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, the presiding judge, Justice Kunaza N. Hamidu, directed the firm to immediately refund the sum of N5,028,249,914.66 to the state government.
The court heard that both parties had entered into a consultancy agreement for the reconciliation and recovery of idle funds and excess charges on foreign loans belonging to the state government.
However, the judge noted that the agreement expired on January 2, 2015, and that the company failed to recover the excess deductions and idle funds within the 90-day period stipulated in the contract.
Justice Hamidu ruled that the firm was therefore not entitled to the consultancy fee it claimed.
The court further restrained the company and its agents from demanding any payment from the state government under the expired agreement and awarded N100 million as general damages against the firm.
Counsel to the state government, M.A. Liman, holding brief for Uche Nwokedi (SAN), thanked the court for the judgment, while Darlington Onyekwere represented the company. NNL.
