The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has fixed May 20 for the hearing of contempt proceedings against the Managing Directors of General Hydrocarbons Limited and Century Energy Limited over alleged disobedience to court orders regarding a crude oil dispute.
The case, marked FHC/PHC/CS/287/2024, stems from claims by Trisac Nigeria Limited that the defendants failed to comply with a December 18, 2024, order by Justice A.T. Mohamed.
The order directed the arrest and detention of 150,000 barrels of crude oil aboard the vessel MT Tamara Tokoni (IMO No. 8302131), located offshore at OML 120, as security for a $1.6 million debt allegedly owed for offshore logistics support services.
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The plaintiff, represented by Lagos-based admiralty law firm T.G.E. Nwugha & Co, claims it is owed $1,647,975 for the hire of its vessels MV Donny and MV Ocean Merit to support operations at the oil field. Additional sums of $60,000 and $50,000 were sought for vessel redelivery and general damages, respectively.
The court had ordered the Nigerian Navy, Admiralty Marshal, and NPA Harbour Master to enforce the arrest. The oil was to remain detained until full payment or a court-approved bank guarantee was provided.
However, Trisac alleges that despite the order, General Hydrocarbons and Century Energy—a non-party to the suit—commenced illegal evacuation of the detained crude oil. In response, the plaintiff initiated contempt proceedings and issued Form 48 against the managing directors.
An affidavit filed by Trisac’s Operations Supervisor, Godpower Anuba, supports the urgency of the committal application, citing deliberate defiance of court directives.
The matter will come up for hearing on May 20.
