Following seizure by the Nigerian state oil company of some 63 fields now producing nearly $1 billion in oil from oil majors including Shell and ChevronTexaco and rampages by workers and others against multinational-owned refining and pipeline facilities there, the judge's order underscored the difficult of doing business in a country Transparency Inrternational has called the third most corrupt in the world.
According to today's online editions of The Vanguard daily newspaper:
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has issued a bench warrant against former, Managing Director of Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd, Georges Buresi. He is facing contempt charge before the court, over alleged disobedience to the order of the court in respect of Amenam/Kpono Field Development Project.
Presiding judge in the matter, Justice Daniel Abutu made the order, at the instance of counsel to SBL Consortium Ltd, at the resumed hearing in the suit.
Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Counsel to Buresi, had at the hearing, told the court that his client (Buresi) had traveled out of the country.
At that point, Counsel to SLB Consortium, Wale Adesokan, contended that the proceeding, is quasi-criminal in nature, requiring the presence of the alleged contemnor. He consequently asked the court to issue a bench warrant against Buresi.
Chief Akinjide however opposed the oral application, drawing the attention of the court to the difference between a criminal contempt and a civil one. According to him, it is only the plaintiff (SLB Consortium) that is interested in the contempt and not the State, as such it is not a criminal contempt. He urged the court to refuse the application.
The executive has apparently fled the country.
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