By Gideon Njoku
Former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has dismissed the Assets Management Company Of Nigeria, AMCON, as not only a liar, but full of mischief.
He also said that he was deliberately targeted by AMCON so as to rubbish him. Otherwise, the former governor submitted, his name could not have featured on the list of its first 100 debtors, as he was not indebted to AMCON as much as several other debtors, whose names, nonetheless, did not feature before his.
From what the former governor claims he owes, it seems odd that he was not listed among debtors owing below N500m. Otherwise, his name ought to have come featured on serial number 102 or 103.
Duke also decried the excitement which followed the publication of his name, and disputed the amount published against him, insisting he owed the sum of N340 million, as against AMCON’s claim of N527 million. According to him, he has now paid back the loan of N340 million.
Recall that AMCON has dragged Duke to court over his indebtedness to the tune of alleged N527 million, in favour of the United Bank for Africa, UBA. It sought for the forfeiture of Duke’s Ikoyi properties, to offset the debt incurred in the form of a loan. The Court granted the request.
But on Monday, Duke went back to the court, pleading, through his Counsel, Edoigiaweria Omoruyi, for an out of court settlement, and asking for a few days to offset the bill. AMCON’s Counsel, Juliet Reed, represented by Austin Erhabor, did not object. Erhabor confirmed that both parties were in discussions for settlement.
From his reaction on Tuesday, it appears Duke has clearly offset the debt and went further to clarify the circumstances of his indebtedness to AMCON.
He said: “Recently news of an obligation I owe to AMCON has made the news. Whilst I do not understand the excitement this has generated, bearing in mind that debts far far in excess of this have not received a whisper, clearly someone or some people are having fun at my expense, I think it appropriate now that the issue has been laid to rest to state my side of the matter.
AMCON made a claim of N527 million against me which I disputed. I guess to arm twist they went to court and created a media circus. Having done what I consider their worse, I insisted on what I believe is the correct amount N340m. We have since agreed and thus paid
I hope this takes the air out of the balloon. There was nothing to be excited about after all.”