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Says I’m ready to meet him in court
Nigerian musician, Oluseun Anikulapo Kuti, popularly known as Seun Kuti, has defended his alleged criticism of Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN, over Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) judgment.
Recall that Nigeria won its bid to overturn $11 billion damages awarded against it in the controversial P&ID case.
In January 2010, P&ID, a Virgin Islands-registered company founded by two Irish business partners, signed a Gas Supply and Processing Agreement (GSPA) with Nigeria to develop a processing plant in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, but the deal failed in August 2012 and the company sought a $5.96 billion compensation from Nigeria with arbitration proceedings against the country at the London Court of International Arbitration.
After the judgment, the youngest son of the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, went on social media to celebrate the judgment and during a live video, it was alleged that he called Ayorinde a traitor for leaking documents to P&ID that sued Nigeria, the allegation the SAN denied and threatened to sue Kuti for false accusations.
The firm had said it was weighing legal options, including possible civil and criminal actions against Kuti and his sponsors.
But reacting yesterday, Kuti said he only reacted to the judgment, which stated in part: “The air of unreality is compounded by a statement of fees appearing to bear the signature of Chief Ayorinde SAN and billing N200 million for quantum of damages hearing and $197.5 million for negotiation of arbitral award. There does not seem to have been an argument, and consideration of argument, whether over 20 years profitability might deteriorate for reasons not concerned with Nigeria’s compliance with its obligations.”
Kuti said he did not err as he only went online to read the judgment to Nigerians, who may not be aware of the magnitude of the case won.
He added that Nigeria would have been more damaged financially if the court did not overturn the case and the citizens should have every right to know and celebrate the judgment.
“I have been invited to visit a police station tomorrow (today) on the matter and I am willing to go anywhere, and I am confident of winning.
“I only patriotically criticised and my criticism was not severe but patriotic, but the SAN only took offence that I read it. I am saying this now so that Nigerians will be carried along and shine lights on the matter, Nigerians should read the 40-page judgment and bring it to the light.
