….as red chamber fights back with warrant of arrest
By Haruna Salami
The dispute between Hardy Oil Nigeria Limited and Halkin Exploration and Production Ltd over Atala Marginal Oil Field (OML 46), took another dimension Tuesday with the latter slamming the Senate with N10 billion suit .
This is as the Senate through its committee on Ethics , Privileges and Public Petitions , threatened to issue warrant of arrest towards compelling the Managing Director of Halkin to appear before it on petition against Halkin by Hardy Oil Nigeria Ltd .
Hardy Oil had, in a petition filed against Halkin to the Senate , alleged that Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) hitherto owned by it, was fraudulently sold to Halkin by the now scrapped Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
The Senate had on the strength of the petition , mandated its committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, to investigate the allegation.
The two oil firms, at the beginning of the investigative hearing by the Committee in October, appeared through their representatives, but Halkin in a surprise move, slammed the committee with N10 billion suit for discontinuance of the session.
Informing the Committee of Halkin’s litigation during Tuesday session, the Committee Chairman, Senator Ayo Akinyelure (Ondo Central), said a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), M.A. Mahmud, had written the Committee that his client, Halkin Exploration and Production Ltd , had gone to court over oil well dispute.
“The SAN, in the letter, informed us that the Senate had been sued with the sum of N10 billion and that all issues relating to the oil well, are to be handled by the court of law.
“This to us is unacceptable because none of the disputing parties was in court before petition was received by us upon which investigation commenced with attendance of the two parties.
“More disturbing is the fact that before the litigation, Halkin, in a letter dated 12th October, 2021 and signed by its MD, Mr Odogu, promised to appear before the Committee today with relevant documentation on acquisition of the oil well from DPR now Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC) .
“Mr Odogu must appear at our next sitting, failure of which, warrant of arrest would be issued on him because nobody can stop the Senate from carrying out investigation brought before it as empowered by section 88 of the 1999 Constitution.
“The Clerk of this committee will write the Halkin’s MD for a rescheduled appearance which must be honoured”, he said.
Angered by Halkin’s latest move, members of the committee like Senators James Manager, Uche Ekwunife , Smart Adeyemi , Sam Egwu, etc vowed to ensure continuation of the investigation at the next sitting .
Senator Adeyemi, in particular, said even if Halkin failed to appear at the next sitting, submissions should be taken from representatives of NURC and Hardy Oil for decisive resolution by the Committee.
Worried by the move by Halkin Exploration and Production Ltd on the disputed oil well, the Attorney to Hardy Oil Nigeria Ltd , Barrister Ike Onwu Chiluba, urged the committee to use all the legislative powers within its disposal to prevent the investigation from being stalled.
