Saraki Pays 72.7 Mln Naira To Foreign Lobbyist To Garner Support For 2019 Election

Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate President to pay a US lobbying firm $200,000 (72.7 million naira) fee to help him secure support for his bid for the forthcoming National Assembly election, Premium Times report has shown.
The firm is expected to assist Saraki to get support of the American government and institutions ahead of the 2019 general elections, the report claimed.
Saraki, who also doubles as head main opposition People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has reached an agreement with KRL International LLC , Nevada, USA, through Retail Express Limited of Lagos, Nigeria.
The report was extracted from filing by the US firm with the Foreign Affairs Registration agency as required by the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.
The fillings are mandatory for all firms providing lobbying and PR services for foreign institutions and governments.
The retainership concerning the senate president was signed between Adekoyejo Shogbola of Retail Express Limited (on behalf of Mr Saraki) and K. Riva Levinson, President KRL International LLC.
The agreement, which took effect on August 20, 2018, and would run for eight months, covering the period of the 2019 election and up till April, this year.
The senator wants KRL International to attract favourable conditions for him in the US while also building support for Nigeria’s political process and the 2019 elections.
“Whereas, the Client is desirous of engaging the services of the Firm to provide technical assistance in the area of stakeholder engagement in support of a free and fair election in Nigeria in February, 2019,” the terms of the agreement reads.
“Whereas, the Firm will advocate on behalf of H.E. Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki(hereafter referred to as ‘the Principal’) before the US government, the donor community, multi-lateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, international media and the private sector.
“Whereas, the Firm has accepted the professional engagement offered by the Client and represents that it possesses the necessary expertise, skill, technical knowledge, ability and experience to render the required services to the Client.
It is not unusual for Nigerian politicians to engage theservices of foreign lobbying firms to help them burner their images both locally and abroad in the course of an election.
Candidate of the main opposition PDP had also engage the services of a foreign firm to help smoothen things with the United States government.