Jail Adoke, others for contempt – NLNG

The Nigeria LiquefiedNatural Gas Limited has commenced contempt proceedings  against  the Attorney-General of the Federation, MohammedAdoke (SAN), and two others over their alleged disobedience of a courtorder.

The plaintiff had applied for the issuance of Form 49, notice of consequence of court order, seeking the imprisonment of Adoke and two other alleged contemnors for  disobeying an order made by Justice Mohammed Idris of  a  Federal High Court in Lagos on June 18.

Others named as defendants in the Form 49 along with Adoke are Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited and its Managing Director Mr. Romeo Itima.

The liquefied natural gas-producing company which its stakes are jointly owned by the  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,  Total LNG Nigeria Ltd and  Eni International, filed  the form against the defendants on Tuesday.

The court fixed July 4 for the hearing of the contempt suit.

The  alleged contemnors were alleged to have flouted an interim  order  restraining them, either acting for or deriving authority from the Federal Government, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency  not to impose certain charges on certain NLNG’s cargos.

The order was said to have specifically restrained the defendants and NIMASA from charging three per cent of gross freight earnings, tax, charges or dues on all of NLNG’s international-bound and out-bound cargoes, owned by it or its contractors or subsidiaries, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

They were also restrained from further detaining or preventing NLNG’s chartered vessels from carrying out import and export of gas through the Bonny channel or elsewhere in Nigeria.

The order had an ex-parte application filed by the NLNG after NIMASA allegedly blocked the Bonny channel, preventing the entry and exit of NLNG’svessels over alleged unpaid levies.

The applicant stated,  “Since the order  made on June 18, 2013, the respondents have caused their agents, privies and other third parties particularly NIMASA to brazenly disregard and flout the extant Interim Orders of this court, per  Justice Idris made on June 18.”