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Group asks Nigerian govt to retrieve $62bn from oil firms

October 11, 2021 No Comments

A group, People’s Alternative Political Movement (PAPM), has threatened to file a lawsuit against the Federal Government over its failure to retrieve $62billion from international oil companies as directed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court had on October 20, 2018, directed the federal government to immediately take steps to recover all revenues lost to oil companies operating in Nigeria due to the wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.

The PAPM stated this in a letter titled: “Request for Compliance with Judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in suit No SC. 964/2016 between Akwa Ibom & Two Others v Attorney-General of the Federation,” and addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, wrote the letter on behalf of Prof. Omotoye Olorode and Jaye Gaskia of the PAPM.

It read: “Our clients have instructed us to remind you that the Federal Government has not enforced the above-mentioned judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered on October 20, 2018.

“In the said judgment, the apex court had directed the Federal Government to immediately take steps to recover all revenues lost to oil-exploring and exploiting companies due to wrong profit-sharing formula since August 2003.

Based on the aforesaid judgment, you did request for the immediate payment of the sum of $62bn owed by the six international oil companies with joint operating agreements with the NNPC, namely Shell Petroleum Development Company, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria Agip Oil Company, TotalElf Nigeria and Pan Ocean Oil Company.

The group charged the AGF to ensure the full and speedy payment of the $62billion into the Federation Account.

However, if you fail or refuse to accede to the request of our client, we shall not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court to seek an order to compel you to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court in accordance with Section 287(1) of the Constitution, which provides that ‘the decisions of the Supreme court shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and persons, and by courts with subordinate jurisdiction to that of the Supreme Court,” the letter added.

Niger Delta militants order oil firms to quit Akwa Ibom

Niger Delta militants under the auspices of Unyekisong Akwa Ibom on Monday ordered all multinational oil companies operating in the state to leave with immediate effect over unwholesome practices and atrocities in the oil-producing communities.

In a statement signed by its Leader and Assistant Leader, Gen. Dede Udofia, and Major Ibanga Ekang, and made available to Ripples Nigeria, the group expressed disappointment over the state government’s response to the cries of residents of the host communities whose sources of livelihood, property, and lives had been completely destroyed by the activities of the oil firms.

The group, however, left out ExxonMobil and Savannah Petroleum from the quit notice but asked other oil firms that have refused to relocate their operational base from the state, implement the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Nigerian Local Content Law in their employment and contract policies to vacate the state.

The statement read: “It is sad to note that since Addax, Moni Pulo, Chevron, Century, Oriental Energy, Savannah Petroleum, Total E & P, SEEPCO, AFREN and AMNI, among others, commenced operations in Akwa Ibom territorial waters, they have enjoyed relative peace without any hostilities compared to other oil communities in the Niger Delta region.

“But our people have not derived any substantial benefits from these oil companies, their subsidiaries, and partners. Rather, we have been subjected to unwholesome deprivations and marginalisation.

The suffering, hopelessness, degradation, and poverty that the oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State have been subjected to as a result of their industrial activities since they commenced operations are indeed painful and regrettable.”