Tina Amanda
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has adjourned to 12 May 2022, for the report of a settlement in the case instituted by M.L.J Marine Oil and Gas Limited against Belema Oil Production Limited, over three hundred and thirty million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira accumulated debt for the services of hiring three batches.
The Claimant M. L. J Marine Oil and Gas Limited had approached the court with claims that Defendant Belema Oil hired three batches from the company in 2019, and to date, Belema Oil is yet to pay up the charges accumulated and has not also returned one of the equipment still in their possession.
The Claimant is seeking an order of the court directing the Defendant to pay the Claimant the sum of three hundred and thirty million, seven hundred and fifty thousand naira only, being the outstanding balance of money which the Defendant is owing to the Claimant for the services of provision/hiring of the houseboat from the Claimant.
The claimant also sought an order for the sum of thirteen million, five hundred thousand naira only be paid to it being monthly cost for a houseboat which the Defendant is still using and is in its custody.
It also sought an order for the sum of thirty million naira only be paid, being damage and loss of revenue suffered by the Claimant in the course of delay by Defendant in paying the Claimant.
Speaking to our correspondent, Claimant’s Counsel Sir Chinedu Ihegworo, said the court has granted them leave several times to settle the matter, and Defendant has been delaying in that regard.
According to the Counsel, the total sum on the writ as of March 2021, has accumulated to about four hundred and ninety-five million naira, noting that as of Dec. 2021, Belema oil-producing limited, has not released one of the houseboats despite several demands, and also has refused to pay for the equipment.
