Rivers
Banigo Solicits Spiritual Support For Repentant Cultists
As cultists in Rivers
State begin to embrace the Amnesty Programme of the State Government, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo, has called on the Church to partner with the state government by proffering spiritual succour to repentant cultists in the state.
In a statement through her Press Secretary, Paul Damgbor, the Deputy Governor who lauded Governor Wike for the initiative, said the church has a crucial role to play in the rehabilitation of repentant cultists, stressing that since cultism and kidnapping are the handiwork of demonic influence, there is the need for the church, as a change agent to lead cultists to Christ even as they denounced their devilish and criminal activities in order to be properly integrated into the society.
She commended cultists and kidnappers who have decided to embrace the Amnesty Programme and live responsible lives and enjoined them to be steadfast and resolute in their new life as the Governor Nyesom Wike-led administration is committed to the general welfare of all citizens.
The Deputy Governor advised those who are still sitting on the fence to join the restoration train and get converted from their criminal lifestyles before it’s too late adding that a secured Rivers State, would attract more investors and boost the economy of the state.
Dr. Banigo appealed to the people of the state not to stigmatise cultists who have genuinely repented and embraced the Amnesty Programme, urging those who have turned a new lease of life to build their foundation in God who has answer to all their needs.
Rivers
Macobarb CEO Cries Out, Says No Indigenous Contractor Can Win Case Against NLNG Or Oil Majors in Nigerian Courts …As Justice Nwogu Throws Out Macobarb’s N5.74bn Claim
Justice Chinwendu Nwogu of the Port Harcourt High Court has thrown out the N5.74bn claim filed by Macobarb, an indigenous contractor, against the NLNG for breach of contract and accumulated losses.
Shedrack Ogboru, the CEO of Macobarb International Limited, who filed the claims since 2022 as one of the claimants, in suit number HC/2013/CS/2022, has however cried out, saying the fate of indigenous contractors in Nigerian courts is doomed.
Ogboru told newsmen outside the court after the shock ruling that the judge abandoned the crux of the matter and the terms of the contract to deny Macobarb the claims.
Showing anger and frustration, Ogboru said he felt he presented tight case to the court to show that the NLNG breached terms of payments and that the breaches caused slowdown of the execution of the contract, but regretted that the judge did not agree with any of his arguments.
Saying many indigenous contractors have died as a result of injustices in the hands of the oil majors, he said only abroad do communities and local contractors get some form of justice, never in Nigeria.
Justice Nwogu had ruled that the NLNG did not breach its contract with the contractor and that the gas company did not unlawfully deny Macobarb payments.
The judge said work executed by Macobarb did not amount to ‘work done’ as stated in the contract terms except the NLNG approved it as so, and that the provision mandating the person recognized as ‘contract holder’ nominated by the NLNG as the one to authorize any dealings with the contractor did not mean that he alone could act for the NLNG as relied upon by the contractor. The judge ruled that the ‘contract holder’ was a mere day to day overseer of the project, and that any official mandated by the NLNG can terminate the contract.
The judge also ruled that the contract did not provide for ‘standdown payment’ and that the NLNG did not cause delays in the execution of the contract as claimed by the contractor.
The judge also ruled that the payment failures by the NLNG that the contractor claimed affected the contract did not amount to an offence or breach of the contract but that the contractor misused the loan he obtained from banks.
In the end, the judge ruled in favour of almost all the grounds submitted by the NLNG and none of the grounds by the contractor, and even tongue-lashed the contractor in most of his rulings.
Reacting, Ogboru said: “My case is presented 100 per cent, the NLNG’s case is zero; but surprisingly, the NLNG has rather been upheld, and Macobarb denied. I pity indigenous contractors in Nigerian courts. We are doomed.”