The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and all banks operating in Nigeria from releasing or paying any money to Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Limited pending the determination of a dispute over an alleged unpaid debt of $117,000.

The court specifically barred NNPCL from paying any funds to the Chinese company, its directors, shareholders, agents, servants or privies “in whatever form or under any guise” in connection with contractual obligations linked to the matter before the court.

Justice Stephen Daylop Pam also ordered the temporary freezing of funds and assets belonging to Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Limited over the alleged debt said to be owed to the plaintiff/applicant.

The orders were granted in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/55/2026 following an ex parte motion moved by counsel to the plaintiff, M.K. Chinda, alongside H. Aigbiremolen, of the law firm of Thankgod Nwugha Esq.

In the ex parte application, the plaintiff, Wellman Group Limited, alleged that the defendant failed and refused to pay for the hire of tugboats and barges used for the transportation and storage of heavy cargo within Nigerian territorial waters between December 8, 2025 and January 27, 2026.

According to the plaintiff, the cargo involved included a 340-ton gas turbine and 300 tons of Giwu 1 and 2 generators transported from the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) facility in Warri to Griniya Jetty, Lokoka, aboard the plaintiff’s barge, MV Dodi Star.

Counsel to the plaintiff further told the court that the outstanding amount represented unpaid hire charges for maritime services rendered during the operation, calculated at a daily rate of $12,987.1.

Justice Pam granted a Mareva injunction restraining Beijing Seajets International Forwarder Company Limited, its directors, shareholders, agents and representatives from withdrawing, transferring or dissipating funds held in any financial institution in Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The court also restrained the company from selling, transferring or tampering with any movable or immovable assets, shares or funds located in Nigeria pending the determination of the motion on notice.

Among the orders made by the court was: “An order is hereby made restraining the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants, and/or Privies from withdrawing, tampering with or otherwise dissipating the funds in its bank accounts in any bank or other financial institutions within Nigeria up to the sum of US$117,000.00 being the unpaid hire sum of plaintiff’s tug boats and barge, cost of conveyance and storage of the bulk cargo of 340 tons gas turbine and 300 tons Giwu 1 and 2 Generator from NPA Ports Warri to Griniya Jetty Lokoka between 8/12/2025 and 27/1/2026 at the daily rate of US$12,987.1 aboard the plaintiff’s barge, MV Dodi Star, within the territorial waters of Nigeria pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

The judge further ordered: “An order of Mareva injunction is hereby made restraining the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants, and/or Privies from dealing with, dissipating, transferring, selling or however tampering with any assets, whether movable or immovable, shares or funds in any financial institution in Nigeria pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice.”

Justice Pam also ruled: “An order of injunction is hereby made restraining the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) from paying over to the defendant, its Directors, Shareholders, Agents, Servants and/or Privies, in whatever form or under any guise, the sum ordinarily due and payable to the defendant arising from the defendant’s contractual obligations to NNPC Ltd and giving rise to the agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant pending the hearing of the motion on notice.”

The court equally directed all banks within its jurisdiction, as well as NNPC Ltd, to disclose on oath within seven days the sums standing to the credit of the defendant in their custody.

The matter was adjourned to June 1, 2026, for mention. (The Nation)

Update news