The Federal Ministry of Justice has denied payment of N5.3 billion judgement debts without due process, saying the disbursement of the fund followed laid down procedure.
The Senate Committee on Public Account had last week accused the Solicitor-General of Nigeria, Dayo Akpata, of allegedly disbursing N4.16 billion judgement debts vote without due process and also demanded for the outstanding N1.1 billion of the judgement debts.
But the Ministry in the written response to the Committee said a total sum of N1.1 billion was spent on the payment of judgement debts in 2018.
The Ministry explained that the balance of N1.17 billion was carried forward to 2018 from the 2017 budget to pay off the outstanding debts of N1.1 billion.
The Ministry further explained that only five companies benefited from the judgement debts.
The Ministry said: “A total sum N1.18 billion only was spent on the payment of Judgement debts in 2018.
“The balance of N1.17 billion was carried forward to 2018 and the difference of N1.19 million was made to pay off the outstanding judgement debts.”
The Ministry included evidence of disbursement of N1.1 billion in the written documents.
