The
managing director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited,
NPDC, Yusufu Matashi, on Thursday, March 2, 2017 told Justice Nnamdi
Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that his company
allocated 7, 553, 733 barrels of crude oil to Atlantic Energy under a
Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA).
He gave
this revelation under cross-examination by Lawal Rabana, SAN,
representing Jide Omokore who is facing trial alongside Victor Briggs,
Abiye Membere, David Mbanefo, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited
and Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited on a 9-count amended
charge of criminal diversion of about $1.6billion alleged to be proceeds
of sale of petroleum products belonging to the federal government.
Matashi,
whose evidence started on Wednesday as second prosecution witness
stated that while the total value of the transaction as at 2014 was
$823, 750, 159, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Limited could not meet
up with its cash call for operations and training which made NPDC, a
subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to use
funds in its account to clear outstanding payments.
Responding
to further questions from A. Adegbamere, SAN and Tayo Oyetibo, SAN
representing 3rd and 4th defendants respectively, Matashi maintained
that, “Atlantic Energy Brass Development Limited and Atlantic Energy
Drilling Concept Limited breached the contractual agreement made with
NPDC”.
“All
I have said were based on records which I believe in its truthfulness
and accuracy. The SAA under review was carried out because of the
success of the previous SAA and there was need to consolidate on the
gains achieved earlier”, said the NPDC MD.
Justice Dimgba, thereafter, adjourned to March 21, 2016 for further trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head Media & Publicity
2 March, 2017
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