AGF commends UK court for ordering PI&D to pay Nigeria post- judgement costs in pounds

BY ANDREW OROLUA

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said on Friday that United Kingdom Court of Appeal has validated Nigeria’s claim for the PI&D Post- judgement costs in her favour to be paid in pounds sterling (GBP).

United Kingdom Court of Appeal refused PI&D’s request to pay the cost in Naira which would have reduced the legal cost drastically. Fagbemi, SAN, said and commended the United Kingdom Court of Appeal ruling.

A statement on Friday by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communications and Publicity, Office of the AGF, said Fagbemi was delighted at a report just received from the Federal Government’s UK solicitors on the latest victory recorded by Nigeria in its fight against corruption and extortion by “litigation hawks”

“Today (being the 12th day of July 2024), the United Kingdom Court of Appeal validated Nigeria’s claim for the post-judgment costs to be paid in Pound Sterling (GBP), the AGF stated.

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Fagbemi said the PI&D request was another misconceived and desperate attempt by fraudsters to deprive the Nigerian people of hard-earned public revenue.

“As a government, we are very determined to recover these costs and make P&ID and its US funders pay for their scam so as to serve as a deterrence to others of their ilk.

“We commend the dedication and tenacity of our legal team for this accomplishment, the AGF said.

Recall that consequent upon our success in defeating the fraudulent USD11 billion claim by P&ID last year, Nigeria continues its efforts to recover its substantial costs from P&ID and its vulture fund backers, Fagbemi stated.

The AGF noted that P&ID had tried to reduce drastically cost award claiming that Nigeria should only be entitled to recover its costs in Naira, which evidently will produce a much lower cost.