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$9.6bn P&ID Debt: FG Set To Pay $200m Security Deposit, Today
The Federal Government has finally agreed to pay the $200million security deposit ordered by Justice Christopher Butcher of London Commercial Court in September in the ongoing gas dispute case between Nigeria and Process and Industry Development Limited (P&ID), it has been learnt.
The British court had asked Nigeria to pay $200million security payment in the court’s account while granting request to stay execution in the award of $9.6billion award in favour of P&ID.
In a statement by the embattled P&ID, last Saturday, the Federal Government’s legal team said during a hearing at the London court, last Friday that Nigeria would pay the $200million security deposit.
The statement was made available by the Associate Director, In-House, London, the media firm that represents P&ID, Chris Rogers, following an enquiry, yesterday.
The statement read in part, “Before Justice Butcher today (Friday) in London, the Nigerian legal team acknowledged that President Muhammadu Buhari has authorised the steps to provide a bank guarantee for the $200million in security that was ordered by the English court in September.
“Moreover, the following steps have already been taken by the Nigerian Government: Ministry of Finance has received approval to proceed with obtaining the bank guarantee; Minister of Finance has submitted a request to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to proceed with procuring the bank guarantee; the Central Bank of Nigeria has submitted a request to an unnamed foreign correspondent bank to issue the bank guarantee from London and provide the relevant information to the court.”
The Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation had filed an appeal before the London court to stop the order of September, 2019, to pay the $200million security deposit and the $9.6billion Tribunal Award in favour of P&ID.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who was part of the Federal Government’s delegation to London late September, disclosed to reporters in Abuja on October 2, that the government had begun the process of filing an appeal against the $200million security deposit.
He said the government retained international legal firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, for the case.
Apart from the $200million, Mohammed said the government would be able to seek a refund of the $250,000 it was asked to pay to P&ID, if the appeal succeeded.
Last week, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, confirmed that the Federal Government had filed the appeal.
But P&ID’s statement on Saturday, following a hearing at the London court, indicated that the appeal had failed.
Unfortunately, the P&ID’s claim could not be independently verified as at the time of filing this report, yesterday.
Also, efforts made on Saturday to get the AGF Office to state its side of the case failed.
The spokesperson for the AGF, Dr Umar Gwandu, who was confronted with the claims by P&ID as to the alleged developments at the London court, last Friday, promised to get back to one of our correspondents.
As of the time of filing this report around 11.30pm, about eight hours after he was contacted, he had yet to get back.
Several calls made to his telephone lines thereafter were not responded to.
Also, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, did not respond to several calls and a text message sent to his line.
However, responding to the development in the statement, P&ID said the court hearing was a welcome development.
“The eleventh-hour gambit by Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, to avoid paying the $200million in security to the English Court on November 25 has failed,” the company said.
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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