Queen Nwabueze
The Akwa Ibom State government has sued the multinational company, ExxonMobil, describing the latest company move to sell off assets jointly owned by both parties as most irresponsible for any corporate citizen.
Announcing the newest suit against the oil giant, Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Essien Udom, SAN, said that the state government had to file the suit in court to prevent Mobil from selling the assets without due process.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAccording to the AG and Commissioner for Justice: “Mobil has not formerly informed the state government that they are selling off and leaving. Everything we heard was from the media, which is most irresponsible for any corporate citizen. There has been no direct contact with us.
“The fact that they’ll attempt to sell in a surreptitious manner without any discussion with the government of Akwa Ibom State is very distressing and not to be expected from a responsible corporate citizen.”
Recall that ExxonMobil had recently informed the general public that it had reached an agreement to sell its equity interest in Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energy.
Further describing the firm’s plan as “upsetting” and “contemptuous,” Udom buttressed that Mobil must not go ahead with the sales since the company still has a case to answer with the state government in court.
The AG explained: “The attempt to sell its asset, some of which may include assets belonging to Akwa Ibom State, is rather upsetting. Mobil has been in Akwa Ibom State for several years and the relationship has been very good until recently.”
Udom stated: “That’s an action that may frustrate the outcome of a pending court case. Akwa Ibom State government had to enter a court case restraining Mobil from continuing with the proposed sale of its assets and that’s because there is a pending litigation between Mobil and the government of Akwa Ibom State.”
The government reminded the general public that ExxonMobil had dragged the state government to court, challenging “the revocation of some of the Certificates of Occupancy (CofOs).”
“It is, therefore, a big surprise to us that in the pendency of these law suits, they went ahead and attempt to sell some of the assets and leave. That is why we have the order, stopping them from continuing the sales and removing any asset from Akwa Ibom State.”
The SAN said: “The sale cannot be allowed to proceed because when you have parties contesting ownership of an assets (sic), all those things would be kept in abeyance. The court has the right to keep what is called ‘subject matter of litigation.’
“Any attempt by either of the parties to deplete the asset or sell or dispose of them would be resisted by the court. It is contemptuous actually,” the AG and Justice Commissioner, concluded.
