Court restrains FG, EFCC from halting Aiteo’s operations

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the federal
government from taking steps to freeze the bank accounts and
business operations of AITEO Eastern E & P Company Ltd.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday ordered parties to maintain
status quo in the business operations of the company pending the
determination of the main suit before the court.

The judge summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)
and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear
before the court on December 18 to show cause why the ex parte
application by Aiteo should not be granted.

Aiteo had in the application by its counsel, Mike Ozekhome
(SAN), sought a preservative order of interim injunction
restraining the federal government from “interfering with or
obstructing the business operations, activities and undertakings of
the plaintiff, either by way of embargoing or freezing any of its
accounts or obstructing its activities in any way or manner
whatsoever.”

AITEO is a Limited Liability Company, a major player in the
upstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry, as well as the
joint/operator of oil mining lease (OML) 29, an asset which is
jointly owned by it and the federal government through the NNPC,
which subscribes to 55% of the said asset.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the federal
government from taking steps to freeze the bank accounts and
business operations of AITEO Eastern E & P Company
Ltd.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday ordered parties to maintain
status quo in the business operations of the company pending the
determination of the main suit before the court.

The judge summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF)
and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to appear
before the court on December 18 to show cause why the ex parte
application by Aiteo should not be granted.

Aiteo had in the application by its counsel, Mike Ozekhome
(SAN), sought a preservative order of interim injunction
restraining the federal government from “interfering with or
obstructing the business operations, activities and undertakings of
the plaintiff, either by way of embargoing or freezing any of its
accounts or obstructing its activities in any way or manner
whatsoever.”

AITEO is a Limited Liability Company, a major player in the
upstream sector of the Nigerian oil industry, as well as the
joint/operator of oil mining lease (OML) 29, an asset which is
jointly owned by it and the federal government through the NNPC,
which subscribes to 55% of the said asset.