Maurice Ibe, Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd CEO, has sued the Abia government for being scammed in a $151 million Paris Club refund.

On Wednesday, the firm told a high court in Kubwa, he petitioned the EFCC over the Abia government’s refusal to pay for its service to recover the money.

Mr Ibe revealed this when cross-examined by the counsel to Ziplon Concept (fourth defendant), Jeff Njikeonye, in a suit filed by Mauritz Walton against Abia.

Other defendants in the suit are the attorney general of Abia, the United Bank of Africa, and Ziplon Concept limited. Mauritz Walton Limited sued Abia for refusing to pay it an agreed 30 per cent of $151.4 million refund of the over-deduction from the Abia government foreign loan portfolio by the federal government.

Upon cross-examination, Mr Ibe confirmed the then-Governor Theodore Orji engaged him to “determine, reconcile and recover” the fund on November 3, 2014.

Mr Ibe, in his testimony, told the court that along the line, the Abia government brought in the fourth defendant (Ziplon), claiming it had renegotiated with it to carry out the job for the state.

”Ziplon Concept wrote to Mauritz Walton Ltd that the state government would accept to pay the fee if he accepted a 40/60 per cent sharing formula.

“The Abia government offered N250 million to me, and the fourth defendant (Ziplon), counsel to Abia accountant general, Tony Ugbulafor, and representatives of the government were present in the meeting held at Abia Lodge, Asokoro Abuja.

“In the meeting, it was revealed that Ziplon had already been paid N100 million. What happened to the N250 million offered,” said Mr Ibe.

He further stated, “The then-attorney general of Abia was shocked to learn that I did not know that N100 million had been disbursed to Ziplon.

“At that point, I told him, I would not be part of the arrangement. It was based on this that I wrote a petition to the EFCC against the Abia government and some of its officials.”

Ibe said he rejected the offer because “it was with bad intent, deceitful and in bad fate, and I did not even consider it.”

He is seeking the order of the court to make the Abia government pay Mauritz Walton Nig.Ltd, N12 billion being consulting fee for the Paris Club refund Abia debt reconciliation with the federal government.

Mr Ibe said Abia engaged Mauritz Walton Nig. Ltd on November 3, 2014, to pursue the refund of excess deductions on foreign loans and miscellaneous charges in exchange for 30 per cent of any fund recovered.

Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until October 4 and October 7.