…As Buhari asks Senate to confirm Dabiri, CEO, Diaspora Commission***
The Federal Government on Tuesday closed its case at a Federal High Court Lagos, in a $55 million debt recovery suit, filed against Agip Oil Company Ltd.
The suit, filed since 2016 by the government’s counsel, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), is one among several others by the government, seeking to recover almost $12 billion allegedly missing from crude oil revenue, from some international oil companies.
The Federal Government is claiming $55 million from Agip for missing crude oil revenue.
The FG also filed similar suits against Chevron Nigeria Ltd, Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd, Shell Western Supply Trading Ltd, among others.
The Federal Government had also sued Total Nig. Plc, alleging that the oil company under-declared the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.
Government accused the oil company of short-changing it to the tune of 245 million dollars by allegedly shipping several barrels of crude oil out of Nigeria, without making due remittance to the authorities.
Specifically, the Federal Government accused Agip of under-declaring the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.
Government claims that Agip short-changed it to the tune of $55 million.
The plaintiff is therefore, praying the court to compel the oil firm to pay the sum, with an annual interest rate of 21 per cent
On Tuesday, the Federal Government, represented by Mr Ituah Imahnze, informed the court that it was closing the case for the plaintiff.
Consequently, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned until Wednesday for Agip to begin its defence.
Nigeria filed the suit, to recover alleged lost revenues arising from undeclared and under-declared crude oil shipments from Nigeria to different parts of the world.
Meanwhile, the President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to confirm Mrs Abike Dabiri, as Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Diaspora Commission.
The request was contained in a letter dated Oct. 24 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Saraki read the letter at plenary on Tuesday.
In the letter, Buhari said the request was in compliance with Section 2(1) of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act, 2017.
In a similar development, Buhari urged the Senate to substitute Chief Olabode Mustapha with Mrs Ronke Sokefun as Chairman, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a letter dated Oct. 28 and addressed to Saraki, the president asked the senate to disregard an earlier letter requesting the confirmation of Mustapha.
He requested that Sokefun be confirmed alongside other members whose names were earlier forwarded to the Senate.
“I now write to inform you of my decision to substitute Chief Olabode Akeem Mustapha with Mrs Ronke Sokefun as the Chairman of the Governing Board, ” the letter stated.
