N195m Debt: German Contractor Broke Down In Tears, Begs Osibanjo To Compel Zamfara Gov To Pay Him
A German contractor, Richard Klosa, yesterday, broke down in tears at a press Conference, accusing Zamfara State governor, Abdulaziz Yari, of ruining his life and career with unpaid debt over a contract he executed in the state.
The 61-year-old German contractor, who reportedly broke down in tears, at a press conference he called over the N195 million debt allegedly owned him by the governor, appealed to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to urgently intervene in the matter.
Klosa who said he had spent the last 41 years of his life in Nigeria as a contractor, alleged that the governor was indebted to him to the tune of N195,594,262.53, being the outstanding cost of contract he executed in the state at the instance of the governor.
Reacting to the allegation, Governor Yari asked Vanguard to visit the station to assess the project before he talks on the issue.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Ibrahim Dogara, Yari noted: “Come down to see the claim and then you come to us for reaction.
“This report is an investigative report. If somebody is making allegations, you need to clarify the claim.
“.This is an investigative issue. The basis of my reaction depends on when you come and see what he is claiming, then I can react. “
Klosa said based on agreement that his money would be paid immediately after completion of work at the state’s FM station, he used his money to supply additional air conditioners, earthing system and many other equipment which were omitted by a local contractor that handled the radio building complex.
But he alleged that four years after the completion of work, the governor was yet to pay him and was instead, evading him.
Klosa, who said the governor had refused to pay the outstanding debt for construction of a radio station for the state in 2013,despite spirited intervention of many people including the German Embassy in Nigeria, therefore appealed to Osinbajo to urgently intervene for payment of the money to him.
Reading a prepared text, titled: “About global appeal to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Government, well meaning Nigerians to compel Zamfara State Government to pay for contract done”, Mr Richard Klosa said the appeal to the Acting President became necessary given that the governor had paid deaf ears to many people who had hitherto intervened on his behalf.
The contractor, who disclosed that his company had since gone murribund following the debt by the governor, regretted that despite the intervention by an Abuja based Human Rights Radio, German Embassy, Minister of Information, Defence and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, the governor was yet to bulge.
He alleged that instead of paying the debt, the governor wanted to further engage him in the setting up of the state’s AM station, saying based on advice of some Nigerian friends, he pulled out of the fresh contract with the governor.
“My major problems in Nigeria and Germany resulting from the torture by the Zamfara State govenor are that I was not able to pay the office rent at Abuja for the past three years, I have not been able to pay salaries for the past two years, FIRS is on our neck to the extent that they have put stickers on the office door warning people not to transact business with us and we had closed our German office in April, this year, “he said in tears.
The contractor also said the German friends who also granted loans to sustain his living were now demanding their money back, very forcefully also, besides the total loss of reputation he has lost in both Nigeria and Germany, his home country following the development.
“I appeal to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the N
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State
The 61-year-old German contractor, who reportedly broke down in tears, at a press conference he called over the N195 million debt allegedly owned him by the governor, appealed to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to urgently intervene in the matter.
Klosa who said he had spent the last 41 years of his life in Nigeria as a contractor, alleged that the governor was indebted to him to the tune of N195,594,262.53, being the outstanding cost of contract he executed in the state at the instance of the governor.
Reacting to the allegation, Governor Yari asked Vanguard to visit the station to assess the project before he talks on the issue.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Alhaji Ibrahim Dogara, Yari noted: “Come down to see the claim and then you come to us for reaction.
“This report is an investigative report. If somebody is making allegations, you need to clarify the claim.
“.This is an investigative issue. The basis of my reaction depends on when you come and see what he is claiming, then I can react. “
Klosa said based on agreement that his money would be paid immediately after completion of work at the state’s FM station, he used his money to supply additional air conditioners, earthing system and many other equipment which were omitted by a local contractor that handled the radio building complex.
But he alleged that four years after the completion of work, the governor was yet to pay him and was instead, evading him.
Klosa, who said the governor had refused to pay the outstanding debt for construction of a radio station for the state in 2013,despite spirited intervention of many people including the German Embassy in Nigeria, therefore appealed to Osinbajo to urgently intervene for payment of the money to him.
Reading a prepared text, titled: “About global appeal to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the Nigerian Government, well meaning Nigerians to compel Zamfara State Government to pay for contract done”, Mr Richard Klosa said the appeal to the Acting President became necessary given that the governor had paid deaf ears to many people who had hitherto intervened on his behalf.
The contractor, who disclosed that his company had since gone murribund following the debt by the governor, regretted that despite the intervention by an Abuja based Human Rights Radio, German Embassy, Minister of Information, Defence and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, the governor was yet to bulge.
He alleged that instead of paying the debt, the governor wanted to further engage him in the setting up of the state’s AM station, saying based on advice of some Nigerian friends, he pulled out of the fresh contract with the governor.
“My major problems in Nigeria and Germany resulting from the torture by the Zamfara State govenor are that I was not able to pay the office rent at Abuja for the past three years, I have not been able to pay salaries for the past two years, FIRS is on our neck to the extent that they have put stickers on the office door warning people not to transact business with us and we had closed our German office in April, this year, “he said in tears.
The contractor also said the German friends who also granted loans to sustain his living were now demanding their money back, very forcefully also, besides the total loss of reputation he has lost in both Nigeria and Germany, his home country following the development.
“I appeal to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the N
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