Alleged Crude Oil Theft: Absence Of Judge Stalls Suit Against Shell Petroleum

The suit filed by the federal government against Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited over alleged crude oil theft before the Federal High Court in Lagos was yesterday stalled due to the absence of the trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola.

Though no reason was given for the absence of the judge, the case has now been fixed December 8 for hearing.
Also joined in the suit is Shell Western Supply and Trading Ltd.

In the suit, the federal government is claiming the sum of $406.7 million from the defendants, representing the shortfall of money paid by it, into the federal government account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The money was said to be for crude oil lifted in 2013 and 2014.
In a supporting affidavit, the federal government had accused the Anglo-Dutch company of not declaring or under-declaring crude oil shipments during the period.

It said that this was following forensic analysis of bills of laden and shipping documents, adding that Shell cheated Nigeria of the revenue.
According to the affidavit, the consortium of experts tracked the global movements of the country’s hydro-carbons, including crude oil and gas.
They identified the companies engaged in the practices that led to missing revenues from crude oil and gas export sales to different parts of the world.
They also revealed discrepancies in the export records from Nigeria with the import records at U.S. ports.