An Upper Area Court sitting in Zuba, FCT, has issued criminal
summons against Shell Petroleum Development Company over
allegations of stealing 16 million barrels of crude oil through the
use of a fraudulent and unapproved metering system.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
Also summoned alongside Shell are seven of its top executives;
namely Chibueze Uduanochie, Simon Ruddy, Bashir Bello, Osagie
Okunbor, Igo Weli, Toyin Olagunji and Capt. Callium Finlayson.
![image](/2021/01/payne-alex.jpg")
The summon, dated Feb. 25, was issued and signed by Judge Gambo
Garba of the court.
The court ordered Shell petroleum company and its seven
executives to appear before it on March 3 to answer the charge
levelled against them by the complainant.
The suit, marked DC/CR/200/2021, was filed by the African
Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust.
The group alleged that as operators of the Bonny Terminal, Shell
installed an unapproved metering system which it claimed was
temporary and which it manipulated to deliberately understate the
volume of crude oil that was injected to the terminal.
It claimed that the action of Shell shortchanged the local oil
companies, owners of the oil and the Federal Government of the
revenue due to them.
The oil companies include Belema Oil, Eroton, AITEO and
Newcross.
Consequently, the group asked the court for an order convicting
the Shell executives of the criminal acts of conspiracy, theft and
cheating which according to them, violated Sections 97, 287 and 323
of the Penal Code Law Cap 89 Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
The group also alleged that the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR) had conducted investigations into the allegations
and had indicted Shell.
They also alleged that Shell had admitted to having cheated the
companies of about 2 million barrels and also committed to refund
the crude to the companies.
The group further said it would be pressing for the maximum
punishment, which is six months in prison for conspiracy, five
years for theft and five years for cheating. NAN
An Upper Area Court sitting in Zuba, FCT, has issued criminal
summons against Shell Petroleum Development Company over
allegations of stealing 16 million barrels of crude oil through the
use of a fraudulent and unapproved metering system.
Also summoned alongside Shell are seven of its top executives;
namely Chibueze Uduanochie, Simon Ruddy, Bashir Bello, Osagie
Okunbor, Igo Weli, Toyin Olagunji and Capt. Callium Finlayson.
The summon, dated Feb. 25, was issued and signed by Judge Gambo
Garba of the court.
The court ordered Shell petroleum company and its seven
executives to appear before it on March 3 to answer the charge
levelled against them by the complainant.
The suit, marked DC/CR/200/2021, was filed by the African
Initiative Against Abuse of Public Trust.
The group alleged that as operators of the Bonny Terminal, Shell
installed an unapproved metering system which it claimed was
temporary and which it manipulated to deliberately understate the
volume of crude oil that was injected to the terminal.
It claimed that the action of Shell shortchanged the local oil
companies, owners of the oil and the Federal Government of the
revenue due to them.
The oil companies include Belema Oil, Eroton, AITEO and
Newcross.
Consequently, the group asked the court for an order convicting
the Shell executives of the criminal acts of conspiracy, theft and
cheating which according to them, violated Sections 97, 287 and 323
of the Penal Code Law Cap 89 Law of Northern Nigeria, 1963.
The group also alleged that the Department of Petroleum
Resources (DPR) had conducted investigations into the allegations
and had indicted Shell.
They also alleged that Shell had admitted to having cheated the
companies of about 2 million barrels and also committed to refund
the crude to the companies.
The group further said it would be pressing for the maximum
punishment, which is six months in prison for conspiracy, five
years for theft and five years for cheating. NAN