SFU, EFCC urged to investigate DPR directors

For alleged fraudulent activities in the Department of Petroleum Resouces (DPR), a group of lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers Unite Against Corruption (LUC) have asked the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate some former Directors of DPR, George Osahon, Tony Chukwueke and some staff of the department.

The group also want the anti corruption agency to investigate the legitimacy of a private company,  Kendal Nigeria Limited which they alleged that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) confirmed was not in its record. The group’s lead advocate, Mr. Ikechukwu Ikeji disclosed this at  a press briefing in Lagos.

He alleged that  DPR  flouted an order of Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court, Lagos which on June 1, 2015 ordered parties in a suit between Cashmir Akagbosu and Heritage Oil and Gas Company Nigeria Limited, DPR and others in suit number FHC/CS/L/778/2015 to maintain status quo ante bellum.

The judge had granted the plaintiff’s request for an interlocutory injunction against the defendants pending the hearing and determination of an application on a motion on notice dated May 26, 2015.

The applicant, Akagbosu had sued Prof. Uche Uko Uche, a co-director of Heritage Oil and Gas for alleged attempt to divest him of his shareholding in the company. The defendants in the suit are Heritage Oil and Gas Company(Nigeria) Limited, Prof. Uche Uko Uche, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and DPR.

Justice Abang had order notwithstanding, Ikeji alleged that DPR under the leadership of Osahon has asked for and received undertaking from Prof. Uche to honour the outcome of the on-going litigation as a condition for conveying approval of the Minister for Petroleum Resources for extension of the exploration period and consent to the assignment of  three per cent and 40 per cent participating interest in OPL 247 to Kendal Nigeria Limited.