Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered the arrest of 440 cargo of 150,000 metric tonnes of crude oil, on board MT Tamara Tokoni with IMO No. 8302131, currently located at OML 120 Western Niger Delta within the Territorial Waters of Nigeria, over alleged unpaid $1. 647, 975 million, being hired sum due.
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The judge made the order while granting an ex parte motion marked FHC/PH/CS/287/2024, filed by ThankGod Nwugha, counsel to the plaintiff, Trisac Limited. Others affected by the court order are General Hydrocarbons Limited and Vitol Energy Limited.

Justice Mohammed after perusing all the processes filed, also directed the Admiralty Marshall with the assistance of the Nigerian Navy, and the Harbour Master of the Nigerian Ports Authority, to arrest and detain the Cargo of 150,000 Barrels of Crude Oil herein sued as 1st defendant/respondent and currently on-board MT Tamara Tokoni IMO: No. 8302131 currently lying at Western Niger Delta OML 120 Offshore Nigeria or any other location within the territorial waters of Nigeria and jurisdiction of the court, pending further orders or directions of the court.

The court held that a total sum of $1,647,975 million, being unpaid hire sum is due to the plaintiff from the 2nd defendant for the hire of the plaintiff’s ships: MV Donny & MV Ocean Merit for Provision of Security Surveillances and offshore support services at the 2nd defendant’s OML 120 located at Western Delta within the territorial waters of Nigeria.

“The sum of $60, 000, costs of redelivery of vessel from Western Nigeria Delta offshore to Port Harcourt as well as $50,000 general damages to be issued by First Bank of Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc., United Bank for Africa Plc or any other first-class Nigerian Bank acceptable to the applicant,” the court ordered.

The plaintiff in its statement of claim alleged that the 2nd defendant habitually breached payment obligations in the Time-Charter party agreement they both entered.
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