Contractors Sue ''AGIP'' For Revoking Contract

   

                        The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has fixed February 5 for hearing of the suit filed by some Oil Pipeline Protection Contractors from Obama (Okoroma) community in Bayelsa State against Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

                        The contractors have sued the oil major over an aborted N500m security jobs for the protection of oil pipelines along the creeks of Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

The aggrieved pipeline security contractors, in the suit, FHC/PH/CS/293/2014, indicated that Agip had reneged on an agreement with them on May 24, 2014.

They claimed that the contract was for a retainer-ship of surveillance services against oil thieves and pipeline vandals on its pipeline within the Okoroma operational area of the state.

The plaintiff averred that the Federal Government had declared that Oil and Gas Task Force should be set up to combat oil theft and oil pipeline vandalism in Bayelsa in line with constitutional function of securing life and properties.

They added that the action did not entitle Agip to renege on its pre-existing obligations to the plaintiff under the anti-crude oil theft surveillance agreement after insuring over 70,000 barrels production per day.

In the writ of summons signed by Nyenye Matthias on behalf of the aggrieved contractors, they sought an order directing Agip to pay to the plaintiff the sum of N500m.

They claimed the sum represented arrears of monthly remuneration due and accruing to them for their services from June 2014 to October 2014 under the terms of the agreement.

They also sought an order directing that the sum of N3bn damages be awarded against the defendants for a breach of contract and undue interference.

They equally asked for an injunction restraining the defendants by themselves or by their servants or agents, from further interfering or meddling in the lawful commercial transactions of the plaintiff as well as interfering with the payment of their lawful service entitlements.

It was learnt that several attempts by top security agents to resolve the dispute amicably failed as Agip allegedly said they were acting on orders from some top Bayelsa Government officials not to pay the contractors but to terminate existing surveillance jobs.

It was said that the refusal by the aggrieved indigenes of Okoroma community in Nembe to withdraw the suit against the Agip was based on principle.

They had warned that they would see to the end of the matter and that they would not be deterred by intimidation from the oil company.