The court gave the order while ruling in a matter delineated FHC/PH/CS/02/2025 and filed by First Bank of Nigeria Limited against the four entities via a Motion Exparte dated January 6, 2025 and filed on January 9, 2025.
The court also gave an order directing officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA and Harbour Master of the Nigeria Ports Authority to render necessary assistance to the Admiralty Marshall of the court in giving effect to the order of arrest of the Cargo of Crude Oil On Board FPSO Tamara Tokoni in order to secure same and also take other steps including the provision of regular patrols and surveillance around her to prevent General Hydrocarbons Ltd from dissipation until the order of the court has been complied with in respect of the arrest of the cargo.
Justice Obile then adjourned the matter to February 10, 2025 for mention.
The court gave the ruling after reading the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Temitayo Osundosumu, on behalf of First Bank of Nigeria Limited at 35, Marina, Lagos Island, Lagos State and after hearing E. C. Unachukwu, Esq, had move the motion and urged the court to grant the application on behalf of First Bank.
Further, the court issued a warrant of arrest against the cargo of crude oil on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel Tamara Tokoni presently located at Rivers State or any port of within Nigeria territorial waters.
The court also ordered the Admiralty Marshall of the Federal High Court and to all and singular his substitute to arrest and detain the said cargo of crude oil on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, Tamara Tokoni and to keep same under detention until further orders is received from the court.
There was also a cautionary instruction cautioning that the cargo being in custody or possession of the Admiralty Marshall by virtue of a warrant from the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, all persons “are hereby cautioned not to attempt to remove the same or interfere therewith without the authority in writing of the said Marshall or his substitutes, otherwise, they will be immediately proceeded against.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE