Business
ALSCON: Appeal Court upholds High Court order to arrest and jail DG BPE Alex Okoh
Lucky MOMOH
Houston, Texas USA- FOLLOWING the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday December 17, 2019 for the arrest and imprisonment of the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise, Dr. Alex Okoh over the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, and the subsequent stay of execution order by the Federal Court of Appeal on the request of the embattled DG, the federal Court of Appeal has now reaffirmed the order of the High Court two years after, for the arrest and imprisonment of the DG.
Embattled Director-General of Bureau for Public Enterprise, Dr Alex Okoh
Specifically, Alex Okoh, Director General of the BPE is to be remanded in prison for thirty days for his repeated and calculated effort to impugn the integrity of the Supreme Court by flagrantly disobeying the unanimous decision of the Apex court since 2012.
While the BFI Group has continuously and repeatedly shown its belief in the rule of law and Nigerian judicial system, by taking all its grievances before the court as stipulated by law, The BPE under Alex Okoh has repeatedly shown its disdain and complete disregard for the rule of law by failing to obey a simple, direct, unambiguous but very unanimous judgement of the Supreme court since 2012.
This calculated attempt of the BPE necessitated the decision of the BFI Group, a Nigerian- American consortium, and winner of the bid for ALSCON to approach the Federal high Court, even after securing a Supreme court judgment over six years earlier, to explain why an Agency of Government can be so powerful, to the extent of flagrantly disobeying and disregarding the judgment of the nation’s Supreme Court.
The High Court, after intensive hearings, ordered that the DG, Alex Okoh be remanded in prison custody, until his flagrant and consistent disobedience of the Apex Court judgement is sufficiently explained, or at best obeyed. Alex Okoh and the BPE approached the Court of Appeal to stay the execution of the High Court’s judgement.
Hence, after two years of litigation, the Appeal Court has now found Alex Okoh and the BPE deficient in their appeal, and in want of empirical evidence to prove their case, and thereby upholds and reaffirms the judgement of Justice Anwuri Chikere of the Federal high Court Abuja.
Speaking with newsmen outside of the court after the judgement, President of the BFI Group, High Chief, Dr. Reuben Jaja explains “This statement means finality for us, because the Appeals Court judgement basically validates all the issues that was in question. This means finality, it means ALSCON can move forward, it means Nigeria can finally put this strategic asset into use, it means our industrialization policy, particularly in the Niger-Delta region will now commence.”
“Like I said, this judgement of the Appeal Court indicates finality to the long legal tussle. it would basically ensure that both parties understand that there is a limitation to legal tussle, and
let us focus on helping our country to move forward. This is our administration, this government is serious with rehabilitating and refocusing the economy, and those of us who are in the private sector, and are positioned and willing to assist this government move forward must be given a chance to support not just this government but the country in general.”
“This judgement has rekindled my confidence in my country, particularly the judiciary. The judiciary looked at the matters and left all the rhetoric and issues that aren’t vital to the assessment of the truth and facts and merits of the case, so the judgement has given me a strong confidence as a business man, and also it has reassured international investors who may be thinking of coming into Nigeria, that the Legal system is strong and bold enough to take action on any case whether it involves the government or private sector, and take decisions that are based on fairness, equity and fair play. This is a signal not only to domestic captains of industry, but also to industrialists in the international community, who had interest in our nation.
However, for civil servants who are privileged to be saddled with the responsibility of managing or directing the affairs of our most strategic public agencies in this country, I would appeal to them to be patriotic citizens and place their nation first, and above all things. Think first of what you can use that privileged position to do for your country and not what your country can do for you, according to president JF Kennedy.
This is serious because your legacy must be quoted by succeeding generations. We must leave something of value for the future because our children will be competing with the children from other nations around the globe. We must not by our actions or inactions today, put them at a disadvantage in the future.” he enthused.
The NNPC Limited has raised alarm over what it described as a growing wave of fraudulent claims suggesting that the company is selling refinery scrap materials and equipment to individuals and private entities.
In a public notice by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company categorically dismissed the claims as false, clarifying that it has not initiated or approved any process for the sale of scrap metals, refinery components, or equipment from any of its facilities.
According to the company, it has neither issued requests for bids, tenders, nor expressions of interest relating to such transactions, contrary to information being circulated in some quarters.
More troubling, the company revealed that certain individuals have been impersonating NNPC officials, falsely presenting themselves as authorised agents to facilitate the sale of so-called refinery scrap.
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“These individuals are not authorised by NNPC Limited and are attempting to mislead members of the public,” the statement noted, highlighting the sophistication of the fraudulent scheme.
The development raises concerns about the exploitation of public trust and the potential financial risks to unsuspecting individuals and businesses.
NNPC therefore urged stakeholders, corporate organisations, and the general public to exercise vigilance and avoid engaging in any transaction linked to such claims.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Limited is not conducting, nor has it authorised, any sale of refinery scrap or equipment,” the company reiterated.
It further emphasised that any legitimate disposal of assets would be carried out through transparent, regulated processes and communicated through its official platforms.
The company also encouraged the public to report suspected fraudsters to law enforcement agencies, as part of efforts to curb the spread of such criminal activities.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of Nigeria’s energy assets.
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has won the CSR Champion Award (Health) 2025 instituted by the Independent Newspapers.
Biztellers reports that the award was presented during the Silver Jubilee edition of the Independent Newspapers Awards, themed “Game Changers: Breaking Barriers and Shaping Tomorrow,” held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
The CSR Champion Award (Health) recognises the Foundation’s work in healthcare and its broader commitment to improving lives through social investment programmes spanning health, education, environment, and access to energy.Primary & Secondary Schooling (K-12)
The recognition follows a series of health initiatives delivered by the Foundation, including free cataract screening and surgeries that restored sight to over 6,000 Nigerians, including minors born blind; cancer and glaucoma interventions; medical outreaches to underserved communities; renovation and furnishing of three wards with 100 beds at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi; partnership and sponsorship of heart surgeries; and provision of dental health accessories to children in special schools, among others.
The NNPC Foundation noted that these results were made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose commitment has continued to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity to deliver social investments across the country.
Reacting to the award, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, described the recognition as a validation of the Foundation’s work and the trust placed in it by Nigerians. She noted that the award means so much to the company because it represents the confidence Nigerians have placed in its work and the value they see in purposeful social investment.
“It speaks to the resilience of the communities we serve, the dedication of our team, and the strength of partnerships that have enabled us to do meaningful work in health, education, environmental sustainability and access to energy,” she added.
In addition, Arukwe noted that “these results have also been made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose backing has been instrumental to the success of the Foundation’s work. We receive this award with gratitude, and with a renewed sense of responsibility to do more and reach further across the country.”
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte remains committed to advancing health interventions that improve outcomes and contribute to national development.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), through its Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division, in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonatrach, the Algerian National Oil Company, for cooperation in research, development, and innovation.
The agreement, signed by NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach’s Managing Director, Khodjah Mohamed, establishes a formal framework for joint work in research and technology exchange between the two national oil companies.
This was contained in the press statement issued on Thursday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer Mr. Andy Odeh.
According to the statement, the agreement, held during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, Nigeria, brought together research and development directors from APPO member countries.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by former Secretary General of APPO, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the forum was one of four measures introduced by APPO to address challenges from the global energy transition, which center on funding, technology, and markets.
“The R&D forum tackles technology and expertise needs, the African Energy Bank addresses funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System supports regional oil and gas market integration,” Lokpobiri stated.
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Earlier in his remarks, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Adedapo Segun, said research and development must form a central part of the overall strategy in the African oil and gas industry.
He called for research and development centres to function as engines of industrial competitiveness. “Collaboration in research and development is of strategic importance. The cost of innovation might be high, but the cost of obsolescence would be greater,” he stressed.
Ojulari called for a unified strategic framework through which resources could be pooled, data integrated, and risks shared across member countries.
He further urged the rapid adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced engineering to improve upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
On his part, the APPO Secretary General, Farid Ghezali, urged African petroleum-producing countries to ensure research in the oil and gas sector produced solutions that are practical and directly relevant to the continent. “We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, highlighted the value of the partnership between NNPC Limited and PTDF in supporting decarbonization and environmental protection efforts across APPO member countries.
Chief Innovation Officer of NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation and incoming Chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would give immediate priority to joint programs in the core areas of upstream optimization, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation processes, and industrial systems development.
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