Vessel ferrying GHL crude arrested and detained

The ongoing imbroglio between First Bank and Nduka Obaigbena’s General Hydrocarbons Ltd in the $225.8 million loan saga took a dramatic turn as a vessel ferrying crude belonging to GHL was arrested and detained by the Nigerian Navy.

The seizure followed Federal High Court orders granted by Justice E. A. Ibile in Port Harcourt (Rivers State) on January 9, 2025.

Here are details of the orders:

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE PORT HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT PORT HARCOURT BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE E. A. OBILE (JUDGE)

                                                                                                                SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/02/2025

BETWEEN

FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED                                              –              PLAINTIFF

AND

1. GENERAL HYDROCARBNS LTD
2. THE CARGO OF CRUDE OIL

ON BOARD FPSO TAMARA TOKONI                         –              DEFENDANTS

3. OWNERS/OPERATOS OF THE

FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

4. THE MASTER, FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

ORDER

UPON THIS Motion Exparte dated 6^th January, 2025 and filled on 9^th day of January, 2025 coming up before this Honourable Court wherein the Plaintiff/Applicant prays for the following Orders:

1. AN ORDER Arresting and/or attaching and/or liening the entire cargo of crude oil on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel Tamara Tokoni presently located at Rivers State or wherever she may be found within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court pending the provision of a satisfactory Guarantee from a first class Nigeria Bank in the sum of $19,752,304.84 (Nineteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Three Hundred and Four Dollars and Eighty-Four Cents) plus interest and costs by the said Defendants to secure the Plaintiffs claim herein, or until this Honourable Court otherwise orders.

2. AN ORDER directing officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA, Harbour Master of the Nigeria Ports Authority to render necessary assistance to the Admiralty Marshall of this Honourble Court in giving effect to the order of arrest of the 2^nd Defendant in order to secure same and also take other steps including the provision or regular patrols and surveillance Around her to prevent the 1^st Defendant from dissipation until the Order of this Court have been compiled with in respect of the arrest of the 2^nd

3. AND FOR SUCH OTHER OR FURTHER ORDERS as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

AND UPON reading the Affidavit in Support deposed to by TEMITAYO OSUNDOSUMU, Male, Christian, Adult, Nigerian Citizens of First Bank of Nigeria Limited at 35, Marina Lagos Island, Lagos State. Attached is a Written Address filed at this Court’s Registry.

AND after hearing E. C. UNACHUKWU, ESQ for the Plaintiff move the motion and urge the Court to grant the application.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS:

1. THAT Order is granted arresting and/or attaching and/or liening the entire cargo of crude oil on board the Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Vessel Tamara Tokoni presently located at Rivers State or wherever she may be found within the jurisdiction of this Honourble Court pending the provision of a satisfactory Guarantee from a first class Nigeria Bank in the sum of $19,752,304.84 (Nineteen Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Three Hundred and Four Dollars and Eighty-Four Cents) plus interest and costs by the said Defendants to secure the Plaintiffs claim herein, or until this Honourable Court otherwise orders.
2. THAT Order is made directing officers of the Nigerian Navy, NUPRC, NIMASA, Harbour Master of the Nigeria Ports Authority to render necessary assistance to the Admiralty Marshall of this Honourble Court in giving effect to the order of arrest of the 2^nd Defendant in order to secure same and also take other steps including the provision or regular patrols and surveillance Around her to prevent the 1^st Defendant from dissipation until the Order of this Court have been compiled with in respect of the arrest of the 2^nd
3. THAT the case is adjourned for Mention to 10^th February, 2025.

ISSUED AT PORT HARCOURT under the seal of the Court and Hand of the Presiding Judge this 9^th day of January, 2025.

………………………………………..

CHUKWUKA C. NGOZI (MRS.)

Registrar

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA IN THE PORT HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION HOLDEN AT PORT HARCOURT BEFORE HIS LORDSHIP, HON. JUSTICE E. A. OBILE (JUDGE)

SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/02/2025

Between

FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED                                              –              PLAINTIFF

AND

1. GENERAL HYDROCARBNS LTD
2. THE CARGO OF CRUDE OIL

ON BOARD FPSO TAMARA TOKONI                         –              DEFENDANTS

3. OWNERS/OPERATOS OF THE

FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

4. THE MASTER, FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

IN THE MATTER OF “THE CARGO OF CRUDE OIL ON BOARD FPSO TAMARA TOKONI’

NOTICE OF ARREST

The above named 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 interfere  therewith without the authority in writing of the said Marshall or his substituties, otherwise they will be immediately proceeded against.

DATE AT PORT HARCOURT this 9^th day of January 2025

……………………………………………

NAANLANG S. DASHE ESQ.

Deputy Chief Registrar

ADMIRALTY MASHALL SUBSTITUTE

Federal High Court,

Station/Okirika Road,

Port Harcourt,

Rivers State,

Nigeria.

FORM 7

(ORDER 7 Rules 2 (1) and (5)

IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT

HOLDEN AT PORT HARCOURT JUDICIAL DIVISION, NIGERIA

SUIT NO: FHC/PH/CS/02/202

BETWEEN

5

FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED                                              –              PLAINTIFF

AND

1. GENERAL HYDROCARBNS LTD
2. THE CARGO OF CRUDE OIL

ON BOARD FPSO TAMARA TOKONI                         –              DEFENDANTS

3. OWNERS/OPERATOS OF THE

FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

4. THE MASTER, FPSO TAMARA TOKONI

WARRANT OF ARREST AND DETENTION OF

• THE CARGO OF CRUDE OIL ON BOARD THE FLOATING PRODUCTION STORAGE AND OFFLOADING (FPSO) VESSEL TAMARA  TOKONI PRESENTLY LOCATED AT (B) RIVERS STATE OR ANY PORT OF WITHIN NIGERIA TERRITORIAL WATERS.

To the Admiralty Mashall of the Federal High Court and to all and singular his subsutute

WHEREAS it appears that the (c) CARGO OF CRUDE OIL ON BOARD THE FLOATING PRODUCTION STORAGE AND OFFLOADING (FPSO) VESSEL TAMARA  TOKONI currently CURRENTLY LOCATED AT RIVERS STATE OR ANY PORT OF WITHIN NIGERIA TERRITORIAL WATERS is about to leave Nigeria the Jurisdiction of the Court.  The Plaintiff’s claim is as per the writ of summons being served along with this warrant of Arrest.

This is therefore to require and order you forthwith 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 detension until you shall receive further order(s) from the Court.

MADE by the Presiding Judge and under the SEAL of the Court, the 9^th day of January 2025.

…………………………………………

1. A. Obile

Presiding  Judge