By Adedapo Adesanya

A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has set July 16, 2025, to decide a case in which the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) was accused of breaching a contract it awarded to a local contractor, Macobarb International Limited.

Justice Chinwendu Nwogu, which is handling the matter with the suit number PHC/2013/CS/2022, will also decide and rule if the breach led to costs as high as N5.74 billion, which the claimants are seeking.

The fixing of the date of judgment came on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, after counsels for both parties adopted and adumbrated their final written addresses, each seeking to convince the judge to rule in their client’s favour.

Macobarb had sued NLNG, claiming it breached the terms of contract and that this breach led to various costs amounting to N5.74 billion, saying the contract was deemed to still be running and that cost is rising.

Adopting their address, the lead counsel to Macobarb, Mr Benefit Vilokpo, said, “Claimants have shown by their pleadings and documentary evidence that NLNG breached its terms of contract, and that Macobarb has demonstrated that the purported letter of termination dated 27th November, 2015, is unlawful, null, and void.”

He also said contract agreement made several provisions for ‘Standby Payments’ and that claimants have also shown that they are entitled to Standby Payments.

The claimants’ lead counsel submitted in his adopted final address what he considered issues for determination, adding that the built their claim on the ground that the person that terminated the contract (Mr Emeka Ohiri) was not known to the contract.

It was claimed that the Contract Holder is a Mr Dweller Francis, clarifying that the said Mr Francis never served Macobarb any termination letter.

The claimant counsel also said and pointed to the sections in their final address that the contract provided for standdown time.

The claimants final address noted that to demonstrate that the contract is still in existence, the defendant called for a meeting on the February 19, 2016 termed “Project close-out meeting”.

The contract close-out meeting with signatures of all the attendees showed where it was stated that to close out the contract, NLNG will have to establish what the costs for the materials delivered to NLNG were, as well as the cost for demobilising and to prepare the payment certificates for all items of the contract executed by the contractor.

Macobarb asked the court to view it that the contract is yet to be closed out and to also note that the defendant (NLNG) admitted receipt of materials including 20ft container from the claimants.

On its part, the NLNG lead counsel, Mr Bayo Aderelegbe, asked the court to determine whether the second claimant was a party to the contract and can sue in respect of the contract.

But Macobarb countered this, arguing that this contention by the NLNG had earlier been dismissed by the same court and judge when it was raised during preliminary objection and that in fact, the judge had awarded a fine of N200,000 against the NLNG.

The NLNG counsel also wants the court to determine whether his client breached the contract as alleged by the claimants; whether the defendant wrongfully terminated the contract; and whether the claimants were entitled to the N5.74 billion.

Another crucial matter both parties addressed is the issue of ‘Performance Bond’ mentioned in the contract. The NLNG submitted that the claimant (contractor) failed to submit it within 14 days and that this was the basis for termination of the contract.

By Bon Peters

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it is proposing to generate an estimated revenue of N1.28 trillion in 2025.

This disclosure was made by the Managing Director of the agency, Mr Abubakar Dantsoho, during the 2025 budget defense session organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Ports and Harbour in Abuja Monday.

It was gathered that the new revenue target is 40 per higher that the N894.8 billion it realized in 2024.

Mr Dantsoho informed the lawmakers that it hopes to rake in more money this year from a more efficient and globally competitive port system.

“This shows our unwavering commitment to national revenue generation, even when our operational liquidity is affected,” he stated.

Explaining the sources of the revenue, the NPA boss said, “The 2025 revenue was expected to come from ship dues of N544.06 billion, cargo dues of N413.06 billion, concession fees of N249.69 billion, and administrative revenue of N73.07 billion.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Nnolim Nnaji, tasked the NPA to “beef up its performance, improve port infrastructure and play a greater role in addressing Nigeria’s revenue and unemployment challenges.”

“The ports remain a critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy and the agency needs to meet rising expectations despite its operational challenges,” he noted.

Mr Nnaji insisted that, “No country can thrive economically without high-performing Ports, adding “they are the economic heartbeat of every nation, determining how buoyant a country is through the flow of imports and exports.”

According to him, NPA’s performance has implications beyond maritime activity, even as he opined that increased port output can significantly boost job creation across several sectors.

“The NPA is not just a revenue-generating agency; it is a national asset in terms of employment and economic impact.

“We expect to see detailed strategies on how to improve revenue generation and expand employment opportunities through your 2025 budget,” the federal legislator stated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a number of officials formerly tied to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over an alleged $7.2 billion fraud linked with the rehabilitation of the Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

The former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the national oil company, Mr Umar Isa, alongside a former Managing Director of Warri Refinery, Mr Jimoh Olasunkanmi; the Managing Director of the Warri Refinery, Mr Tunde Bakare; a former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Mr Ahmed Dikko; and a former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Mr Ibrahim Onoja.

Mr Isa, as CFO, was in charge of the release of funds for the turnaround maintenance of the three refineries.

He and all the key officials involved in the maintenance of the refineries and other NNPC key projects are being investigated for alleged abuse of office, corruption, diversion of funds and kickbacks from contractors.

Last week, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Mr Aliyu Wadada, raised the alarm over discrepancies involving trillions of Naira in the audited financial statements of the NNPC Limited, describing the revelations as mind-boggling and worrisome.

The lawmakers also expressed worries about other institutions like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BoI), noting that loopholes were detected during an analysis of NNPC’s audited financial statements from 2017 to 2023.

The committee immediately handed over a list of 11 queries to NNPC finance team and gave them one week to return with answers.

The development has so far not mentioned the former chief executive of the company, Mr Mele Kyari, who was removed by President Bola Tinubu in April

President Tinubu removed Mr Kyari, alongside NNPC Limited’s board bhairman, Mr Pius Akinyelure, as well as all other board members appointed in November 2023.

In their stead, the president appointed a new 11-man board with Mr Bashir Ojulari as the CEO and Mr Ahmadu Kida as non-executive chairman. Other board members are Mr Adedapo Segun, Mr Bello Rabiu, Mr Yusuf Usman, Mr Babs Omotowa, Mr Austin Avuru, Mr David Ige, Mr Henry Obih, Mr Lydia Jafiya, and Mr Aminu Ahmed.