By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
The investigation has revealed that both Taraba and Kebbi States are indebted to the Northern Nigeria Investments Limited (NNIL) an arm of the Northern Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) to the tune of One hundred and seventy-six million, four hundred and ninety-six thousand, seven hundred and twenty-five naira, three kobos (176,496,725,.3).
The debt according to a leaked copy of minutes of the 55th meeting of the Board of Directors of NNIL held on December 16, 2020, captured that of Taraba State to be 159,696,725,30 while Kebbi owed NNIL 16,800,000,00.
According to a request for payment letter written to Kebbi State dated February 12, 2021, and signed by Abdulganiyu Sani, the Managing Director of NNIL, the company said it supplied 300 metric tons of fertilizer to Kebbi State in 2006.
Part of the letter read, "We wish to refer His Excellency to the above subject matter and to request for the payment of 16,800,000.00 representing payment for the supply of 300 metric tones of fertilizer to your State Ministry of Agriculture in the year 2006"
While stressing that following contract agreement with reference number KNSTB/MOS/047/2006 the then Kebbi State Commissioner of Agriculture in collaboration with General Manager Kebbi Agricultural Supply Company (KASCOM) directed them to effect deliveries of fertilizers to the State, Abdulganiyu wondered why the unnecessary delay after supply.
In Abdulganiyu's lamentation, he said, "In the recent past, we were reliably informed that the company that financed the transaction on our behalf had approached the State Government for the payment, but the request was turned down, vide a letter reference MOJ/15/MOA/VOL.ll from the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, indicating that there was no private contract that exists between our financier (NNIL Commercial Company Limited) and the Kebbi State.
"This came to us as a surprise as there is an existing Power of Attorney duly executed between us and the NNIL Commercial Company Limited to the effect that upon successful execution of the supplies, payment should be made to the company on our behalf"
Following the strength of that valid agreement, the NNIL appealed to the Kebbi State government to pay up her debt of N16,800,000,.00. Show quoted text. NNL.
