A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has ruled that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and two of its top officials must stand trial for irregularities relating a contract it awarded to one of its contractors, Macobarb International Limited.

The Nigeria LNG, its former Managing Director, Tony Attah, and General Counsel and Company Secretary, Akachukwu Nwokedi are being accused by Macobarb International Limited of criminal culpability in irregularities relating to a contract awarded to the latter.

Delivering her ruling on Suit No.: PMC/1015/CS/2021 (Macobarb International Limited and others versus NLNG and two others), Chief Magistrate, Blessing Vic-Jumbo dismissed the preliminary objection raised by the NLNG and its officials for lack of merit, announcing Thursday, February 24, 2022 for mention of the case.

According to Jumbo, who sited other cases relating Section 419, upon which this case was filed, the objection was misconceived as the points of objection were not founded on facts, stressing that the defendants could not prove that the case was not in compliance with the law on private prosecution.  

Reacting to the ruling, Counsel to Macobarb International Limited, Morrison Uzoma said it was victory for the long suffering and downtrodden indigenous contractors, stressing that the peaceful disposition of his client, the Managing Director of Macobarb International Limited, Shedrack Ogboru spurred him to explore all avenues of amicable resolution of the matter but resorted to the court when NLNG and its officials blocked all such avenues.

“The court is the last hope of the downtrodden. My client is a peace-loving person and had exhausted every avenue for peaceful resolution. They blocked all. Today, the court has said they should come to court and answer.”

When asked for his reaction to the ruling, Counsel to the NLNG and its officials, Charles Adekunle declined comments.

Macobarb International Limited and its Managing Director, Shedrack Ogboru had brought a complaint before the Chief Magistrate Court 12 presided over by His Worship Blessing Vic-Jumbo that Contract No. B130142PPI (Access Control to CCR, Laboratory, Shutdown Village and Gas Plant Area Project) awarded to it for a lump sum of N95.47Billion by the Nigeria LNG had hit the rocks due to irregularities surrounding which had led to the termination in conflict with its terms and conditions.

The company accused NLNG’s former Managing Director, Tony Attah, and its General Counsel and Company Secretary, Akachukwu Nwokedi of malicious disposition, bad faith, abuse of office and false representation in the handling of the issues surrounding the contract.