Breaking News: Court Orders Irish Firm To Seize Nigeria’s $9b

The decision means that the arbitration is converted into a legal judgement, allowing P&ID to attempt a seizure of the assets.

A British court has ordered an Irish firm, Process and Industrial
Developments Ltd (P&ID) to seize 20 per cent in assets, of Nigeria’s
foreign reserves, amounting to $9bn (£7.4bn).

Justice Butcher of the British Commercial Court gave the ruling on
Friday. The ruling will likely raise concerns among foreign investors.

The case dates back to 2010, when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was Nigeria’s
president. The Nigerian government, under Dr. Jonathan, had struck a
deal with the Irish firm to supply gas to a processing plant built and
run by P&ID in Calabar.

The agreement was for a 20-year deal.

But the Nigerian government failed to keep to her own side of the agreement, prompting the firm to take the case to court.

Meanwhile, in 2013, P&ID won a $6.6bn arbitration case against
Nigeria. The figure was calculated based on what the company was
estimated to have earned over the course of the 20-year agreement.

But in today’s ruling, the firm said the amount had risen to $9bn following interest accrued so far, reports City A.M.

Today’s decision means that the arbitration is converted into a legal
judgement, allowing P&ID to attempt a seizure of the assets.

Andrew Stafford QC, P&ID’s lawyer, said: “We are pleased that
the Court has rejected Nigeria’s objections both to the arbitration
process and to the amount of the award, and that it will grant
permission to P&ID to begin enforcement of the award in the United
Kingdom.”

He added: “P&ID is committed to vigorously enforcing its rights,
and we intend to begin the process of seizing Nigerian assets in order
to satisfy this award as soon as possible.”

{Naijafinix.com}