By Alex Enumah in Abuja
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited and Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd and other individuals in the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL 245) (Malabu) suit, Tuesday, asked the Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja to discharge the order of forfeiture which it granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice John Tsoho of the FHC had on January 26, 2017 granted an order of interim forfeiture of OPL 245 to the federal government pending the investigation and prosecution of suspects in the alleged $1.1 billion Malabu oil deal.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Prof. Olaniwun Ajayi (SAN), representing Shell Exploration Limited, told the court that the EFCC had filed two applications, with one seeking the discharge of the order of forfeiture to the federal government which the court made pending the conclusion of the matter.
According to him, Shell also wants the court to dismiss or strike out the suit as well as order, “staying, injunction or suspending the effects of the interim order made by this court in favour of the EFCC directing that OPL 245 be managed by the Department of Petroleum Resources on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria pending the conclusion of investigation and prosecution”.
More to come…
