By Raphael Jov, Abuja
Galaxy Transportation and Construction Services Ltd have paid another set of its clients on Monday in what it described as ‘efforts to meet our obligations’.
But despite the effort, the payments were received with mixed reactions by some of the company’s clients, with some describing it as ‘selective’.
Some clients told newsmen in the premises of the company’s corporate head office in Abuja, after a visit to inquire about the payments, that they consider the ‘payments as selective’.
Though the company has given explanations that it is first considering those with the least capital in the business, those who wrote petitions to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the company’s managing director, Babagana Abba Dalori, have been included in the latest payments.
‘As much as it is good that some people are receiving alert, I have to say that I feel bitter about the company’s decision to settle the petitioners without considering those of us who chose to reason with them,’ a lady who only identified herself as a client told newsmen.
She also alleged that the payment is part of ongoing negotiations between the company and the petitioners, stressing that it is ‘among the conditions to withdraw their petition from the EFCC.’
Another lady, Aisha Umar, who said she came from Borno to find out the truth about the payments, also added that it is unfair for the company to consider the petitioners and ‘sideline others who stood by them.’
‘I came from Borno to check what is happening because of what I read on the client’s chat group.
‘We heard that Hadiza Abba Dahiru, Hadiza Mata and Bappah Abdulrahman, along with other petitioners’ have begun receiving their payments.
‘Is it because they went to EFCC?’ she asked.
But efforts to identify the petitioners for comments did not yield results.
The company also said it is against its terms to disclose the identity of its clients.
But Mr. Abdulhamid Ibrahim, media consultant to Dalori, confirmed that some of the petitioners were indeed paid.
Though he did not give enough details, he explained that the company is negotiating with some of them and that the payments were part of conditions to settle the matter between the two parties.
‘It is against the confidentiality clause governing the company’s relationship with its clients to disclose their names. Besides I do not personally have those details.
‘But yes, the company is negotiating with some of them. And yes, after the last payment, some of them have approached the management of the company saying that they will close their case if they will be considered in subsequent payments.
‘What we did was to go back and look at our payment schedule, and we tried to review the criteria. For instance, for every 150 clients on schedule, we consider a few of the petitioners. So it is wrong to allege that it is selective. The general payment is not affected at all.
‘And let it also be known that regardless of whether you wrote petition or not, as long as your money is with the company, you will be paid and as you are aware this has already commenced with three batches already down.
‘Once it is your batch, you will get your payment.’
He explained that in spite of that, the company is open to whatever option that will resolve the lingering differences between her and the petitioners, noting that ‘it key in stabilizing our general operations and make the payments even faster.’
‘I have said it last time in a statement that the continued detention of the CEO is affecting the company’s operations greatly. It is only wise to resolve these differences in the interest of both parties and everyone involved,’ he finally added.
The company commenced settling its clients August 06 after almost eight months since it suspended payments.
In another statement Monday, also by Mr. Ibrahim, the company said it has now settled 2, 618.
Galaxy is a subscription based sand mining and quarrying company in Abuja, with branches in many states in the country.
