Macobarb International Limited, a contractor with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) has dragged two top officials of the global gas firm, Tony Atah and Akachukwu Nwokedi, to court for irregularities relating to a contract awarded it by the latter.  

Attah is the immediate past Managing Director of NLNG while Nwokedi is NLNG’s General Counsel and Company Secretary.

According to court papers obtained by Kristina Reports, the duo were summoned before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt presided over by Mrs. Blessing Vic–Jumbo on Thursday, December 9, 2021 to answer to charges of ‘false pretences, fraudulent tricks, and misrepresentations’.

The NLNG, as a company, was also joined to face criminal prosecution.

When the accused persons were called up in court, their team of lawyers led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Tola Oshobi, with Valentine Igbonekwu and Tochukwu Nwankwo, raised preliminary objection to the attempt to dock Tony Atah and Akachukwu Nwokedi, informing the court that their clients were not in court.

The accused persons and their company were summoned to face criminal prosecution arising from a contract matter with Macobarb International Limited and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shedrack Ogboru, over contract number: B130142PPI (Access Control to CCR, Laboratory, Shut Down Village and Gas Plant Area Project) valued at N95.47m as at 2014, but which the complainant said has risen to over N2Bn in accumulated interests and standing time costs.

Oshobi, SAN, clarified that with the preliminary objection raised, the defendants were no longer required by law to put up physical appearance until the objection is decided.

Responding, the prosecution counsel, Morrison Uzoma, supported by C. A. Jumbo, asked for a short date to respond to the preliminary objection.

Ruling on his request, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Blessing Vic-Jumbo, fixed Tuesday, December 21, 2021, for adoption of addresses on the matter.