Alleged $20m Scam: Niger State Government Threatens Contempt Proceeding Against Online Outfit

The Niger State Government has threatened to file contempt charges against an online outfit which accused its officials of misappropriating $20million.

In the report, the online medium had alleged the mismanagement of  N6billion bond facility the state government obtained from a bank and another N10billion hanging funds the administration reportedly recovered from the Paris Club.


But a caveat written by Halal Chambers on behalf of the state government said, the issues raised in the publication were a subject of an ongoing litigation before a High Court in Minna and warned that any further publication or attempt to publish facts in relation to the matter shall be viewed as contempt of court proceedings.

The caveat signed by the firm’s principal partner, Mohammed Garba, reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous online publication intended to mislead and give the world a wrong impression of the issues involved in the above captioned matter that is pending before High Court No. 1 Minna, Niger State.

“We are also aware of the intention of some media outfits to erroneously publish the facts of this case arising from the mischievous online publication notwithstanding that the matter is before court.

“We therefore wish to bring to the notice of the general public that this case is ongoing before High Court No. 1 Minna and any further publication or attempt to publish facts in relation thereto shall be viewed as contempt of the proceedings before the court same being sub-judice and will be treated in the like manner.”

Sourced: Leadership