Grounded Arik fleet threatens Chevron’s oil production

•Court fixes August 5 for suit

There are indications that the 130,000 barrels per day crude oil production by Chevron Nigeria is threatened following the grounding of Arik aircraft by Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) over a $2.5 million debt.

Findings by The Guardian revealed that Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) is in a joint venture with Chevron and Arik Air to carry their workers to Osubi to operate the oil field, which extracts 130,000 barrel of crude oil daily.

It was observed that the Q-400 aircraft that airlift Chevron staff to Osubi was one of the aircraft grounded by NAMA, thereby having consequences on Nigeria’s crude oil production.

The crisis, according to stakeholders, poses serious threat to Nigeria’s efforts to shore up its crude oil production. Arik Air had obtained an ex parte order stopping further execution. NAMA management, in a press statement, said: “We have decided to comply with the effect of the Supreme Court order, by grounding the aircraft so that they are not taken out of the jurisdiction of the court or tampered with in a way as to frustrate the courts.”

MEANWHILE, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), yesterday, fixed August 5, for the hearing in a suit seeking to stop the seizure of aircraft and other properties belonging to Arik Air Limited over $2.5 million debt.

Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) brought the motion on notice to the high court sequel to Monday’s seizure of Arik aircraft and other assets by the Atlas Petroleum International Ltd and its sponsor.

AMCON is seeking to stop the continued seizure of the Arik properties on the grounds that the airline was already under another receivership following its indebtedness to Zenith Bank Plc to the tune of N37 billions.

However, Justice Iheme Nwosu could not proceed with the hearing and determination of AMCON’s suit against the seizure of the aircraft following the discovery that the Deputy Sheriff was not served with the motion as required by law.

Deputy Sheriffs are officials of high courts who enforce and execute judgments of courts as stipulated by law. Justice Nwosu subsequently fixed August 5 and 12 for hearing of the AMCON’s motion.
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