Oil
Environment remediation contract: Nigerian Police set to nail US business man, Jim Daniels
NEW YORK – Following the controversy surrounding an environmental remediation chemical supply contract between two Nigerian firms, Enercon Nigeria Limited and Environ-Aid Technologies Limited and a United States Businessman of Biowish Africa Limited, Mr. Jim Daniels Nnah, the Nigerian Police force seems set to duly investigate the businessman and ensure prosecution if found culpable.
In this regard Honuorable Justice Mohammed Yunusa of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has set January 27, 2014 as the date for the the hearing of arguments in respect of a motion ex-parte granted Mr. Jim Daniels-Nnah, an American citizen, of Biowish Africa Limited to prevent the police from commencing investigation of an allegation of fraud to the $350,000 leveled against him.
After listening to submissions from counsels representing all the parties in the matter, Justice Yunusa who sat in court room eight at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, ordered that the applicants and respondents should return to court on the set date to give their sides of the story.
While addressing the courts Mr Frank Emerho, Counsel representing the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police (Special Fraud Unit), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Onwuka and Deputy Superintendent of Police, Uwa Eguaken said he had filed a motion for the extension of time, which had been served to the applicants and noted that he was ready to return to court on the January 27 to tell his side of the story.
During the hearing, Justce Yunusa asked if there was no longer the possibility settlement of the issue and Nkwocha C.U, Counsel representing the applicant, Jim Daniels-Nnah told the Judge that all parties had been served the motion ex-parte, which was obtained on December 24, 2013 and that the previous day was actually the return date for report of service. He added that he and his client had not been able to meet with the respondents to discuss and settle the outstanding issue.
The Police counsel, Emerhor, however vehemently distanced himself from the statements of Nkwocha to the effect that steps were being taken to dialogue and settle the matter stating that it was Jim Daniels and Nkwocha that charged the police to court while they were trying to carry out their constitutional responsibility of investigating allegation of fraud leveled against the applicants.
Corroborating the position of the Police counsel, counsel of the other respondents, Environ-Aid Technologies Limited and Enercon Nigeria Limited, Mrs C.E Ikebuasi said her clients had petitioned the police over an alleged fraud to the tune of $350,000 perpetuated by Mr Jim Daniels and instead of allowing the police carry out their investigation to ascertain the veracity of the petition or otherwise, he dragged the respondents to court.
“My lord, what the counsel for the applicants said is not the true state of things. He served us and we intend to react to the application”
Environ Aid Technologies and Enercon had petitioned the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police (Special Fraud Unit) on the December 29, 2013 and October 11, 2013 respectively stating that Jim Daniels had allegedly fraudulently obtained the sum of $350,000 from the company under the guise of supplying the respondents various chemicals for Environmental Remediation from Biowish Inc USA.
The petitions, which were obtained by our reporter explained that between September 2012 and December 2013, the Environ-Aid Technologies limited transferred the sum of $350,000 in two tranches of $150,000 and a last tranche of $50,000 on the 16th of October 2012, November 6, 2012 and December 14, 2012 respectively to Biowish ™ Africa represented by Mr Jim Daniels on Bank account number 2531597594, BBVA Compass Bank, Houston, Texas as payment for the supply of chemicals for environmental remediation, which have not been supplied till date.
In a strategic move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has unveiled two key fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and enhancing energy security.
The announcement was made by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Wednesday.
The first initiative, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2024, introduces critical exemptions for essential energy products and infrastructure, including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment.
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These exemptions are designed to reduce living costs for Nigerians, promote energy security, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
The second initiative, the Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, offers new tax relief options for deep offshore exploration projects.
This measure aims to position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for international oil and gas investments, boosting the country’s appeal to foreign investors.
These reforms are part of a broader set of policy initiatives, known as Policy Directives 40-42, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The directives reflect the administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global oil and gas market.
By Yemie Adeoye
NIGERIA’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the protracted ExxonMobil-Seplat upstream oil divestment will be formally approved by the Minister of petroleum within a matter of days, just as he announced his government’s intention to expand the Compress natural Gas, CNG buses initiative.
The President who stated this during his Independence day nationwide broadcast stated that the move is in line with his administration’s commitment to free enterprise, free entry and free exit in investments which is the hallmark of his administration investment policy.
“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.”
The President also seized the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to be patient with his administration’s reform policies. “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace”. he enthused.
As part of the administration’s push to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for ExxonMobil’s plan to invest $10 billion in the country’s deep-water oil sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a meeting with ExxonMobil executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called the investment “a clear testament to the administration’s economic reforms and investor-friendly policies.”
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This announcement follows news that international maritime company DP World intends to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, shared the development in a statement on Wednesday. He quoted Shettima as saying: “ExxonMobil’s potential investment aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a more investment-friendly Nigeria.
We are committed to fostering an environment that supports such transformative projects.”Shettima also discussed the administration’s broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business, highlighting the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to simplify bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives to attract global investors.
“Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These measures, though challenging in the short term, are intended to create a stable and predictable business environment in the long term,” he added.
On the oil and gas sector, Shettima mentioned that the government is revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations to attract investment while ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people.
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