1.7bn debt: Court adjourns case filed against Sokoto Govt to Oct. 20

BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –

Justice Muhammad Dogon Daji of the State High Court 111 on Thursday adjourned till 20th October, 2021 for ruling on the substantive matter in the case filled against Sokoto State government by Sani Muhammad and Co for refusing to pay his agreed 20 percent of the 8.8 billion naira he recovered for them.

The case as filed by Sani Muhammad and Co on 19/11/2020 in a suit no, SS/ 618/2020 seeks to compel Sokoto State government to fulfil its part of an agreement with his firm wherein a 20 percent of whatever was recovered from a comprehensive audit taxes of all federal government MDAs in Sokoto State will be paid to the accounting firm.

Recall that a letter of appointment duly signed by the then Sokoto State Commissioner for Finance, Saidu Umar dated 19/7/2017 contracting Sani Muhammad and Co to carry out audit tax of all federal government MDAs in Sokoto also stated that, a 20 percent of recovered fund will be paid to his firm.

“Part of the appointment letter reads,, “Your consideration fee will be 20% of any amount recovered or generated through your efforts, while the State has approved a commitment fee as requested in your proposal”.

After painstaking audit of all the federal MDAs in Sokoto, Sani Muhammad and Co recovered eight billion, eight hundred million naira (8.8bn) from the federal MDAs which was paid into the State Government account in March, 2019. Paying his agreed entitlement, however, became problematic.

By the recovery of 8.8bn, Sani Muhammad & Co 20 percent as agreed was supposed to be one billion, seven hundred and sixty million naira only (1,760 000,000.00).

Regrettably, however, Sokoto State government refused to keep its side of the agreement as only fifty million naira (50,000,000.00) was paid to the Charterred accountant

After series of appeal for his payment and to no avail, Sani Muhammad & Co wrote a final reminder to the State government on 4/9/2019 . The State government however, through the Attorney General and Commsioner for Justice, Suleiman Usman SAN opted for out of court settlement which the plantiff consented to.
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Presiding over the case that has suffered series of adjournments, Justice Muhammad Dogon Daji at the last sitting awarded a hundred thousand naira (100,000.00) against Sokoto State government (respondent) before adjourning to 16/9/2021 for definite hearing. Though, the money wasnt paid as noted by counsel to the plantif. The case is adjourned once again to October 20th, 2021.