Pipeline security: Faseun, Adams, Dokubo threaten court action

OKUNADE ADEKUNLE
Some pipeline security and surveillance contractors under President Goodluck Jonathan have written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to settle the debt the past government was owing them.

The letter made available to newsmen yesterday was signed by the contractors and the letter was in the names of the companies with which they had secured the jobs.

They are Dr. Fredrick Faseun – New Age NIG. Ltd; Otunba Gani Adams – Donyx Global Concept Ltd; Alhaji Asari Dokubo – ATEF Nig. Ltd; High Chief Bibo Pere Ajube – Gallery Security Services Ltd; Chief Joshua Machiever – Bajeros NIG Ltd; High Chief Omo O. – Close Body Protection Ltd and Izon Ibe Security Ltd.

It would be recalled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had kicked against the award of pipeline security jobs to militant groups by the Jonathan administration, insisting that the development undermines the duties of the Nigerian Navy.

Expectedly, President Muhammadu Buhari cancelled the contract few days after he assumed office.

But the contractors in the statement argued that they were in possession of valid and duly signed contract agreements with the management of the NNPC to protect the pipelines for a period of three months.

“Up till now, the public perception of the NNPC Pipeline Security and Surveillance job was that former President, Goodluck Jonathan gave the job to the contractors on the platter of politics,” they noted.

The letter reads in full: “For the purpose of clarity, it should be noted that the contract was signed between the contractors and the management of the NNPC, an agency of government, as a way of finding lasting solutions to the incessant problem of pipeline vandalisation across the country.

“The terms and agreements of the contract were formulated and drafted by the management of the NNPC and was duly signed by all the parties, including the contractors and the legal department of the NNPC after several meetings and consultations.

“It is also necessary for the public to know that, against the widely held belief that the contract was terminated by the Federal Government, it should be noted that the contract indeed ran its course, which was a period of three months, starting from March 15, 2015 and ended June 15, 2015.

“It is our belief that the contract agreement between the NNPC and the contractors is a public document and therefore can always be accessed by any member of public. At the same time, what we are demanding from the NNPC is for it to redeem its own part of the contract agreement and should not be seen as a favour and handout to any individual.

“By this, we have resolved that by the end of this month, if the NNPC fails to redeem its contractual obligation and refuse to pay us, we would be left with no choice but to take them to court , an action which we think may not do the credibility of the government any good because it is a case based on contractual agreement that was legally signed by a parastatal of government.

“It is also important to know that within the period of the contract, all the contractors experienced one form of loss or the other, either financially, death, physical injuries, or in most cases all the losses.

“To start with, because of the enormous nature of the job, all the contractors incurred huge financial debts in forms of loans from banks and other financial institutions in order to carry out their functions of securing the pipelines.

“It is on record that in the South West and South South, more than eight staff were killed by the vandals in their desperate bids to gain access to the pipelines, while more than 60 of our men received various degrees of injuries.

“Even as we speak, the bodies of one or two of our men killed by vandals are still lying cold in the morgue.

“As part of the efforts to monitor the activities and effectiveness of our men, each of the contractors submitted a weekly report to the NNPC and every month had a meeting with the management of NNPC at the Mosinmi Depot to evaluate events around the pipeline sites and take proper action where they are necessary.

“While we are determined to explore all peaceful and diplomatic avenues to get our dues from the NNPC, we once again want to plead with the management of the NNPC, the Federal Government and indeed President Muhamadu Buhari to ensure that all the contractors get paid for the services rendered to an agency of the Federal Government.”